Richard Lynch Garner (1848–1920) was an American naturalist and one of the earliest researchers to attempt scientific studies of primate language. A former teacher and self-taught zoologist, he became known for his expeditions to Africa and for using a phonograph to record ape vocalizations—an innovative method for his time. Though some of his claims were later contested or discredited, Garner’s pioneering spirit and attention to primate behavior opened the door for future research in animal communication and cognitive ethology.