*

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF CAROLUS VON LINNAEUS

BY D. C. S. RAJU

The name Carl Linnaeus is immortalised with classification of plants and 
Binomial System of Nomenclature. Linnaean Schools of Plant Taxonomy and 
Linnean Societies were established in many parts of the world.

Born at Rashult, Sweden on 23 rd May, 
1707<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A5shult>, 
Linnaeus had his education at Vaxjo. Like many children, the young Carl 
feared rod and did not get interested in theological subjects. Instead he 
was learning more about nature, logic and classical Latin. Later he studied 
medicine at the University of Lund <http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/> and 
Uppsala <http://www.uu.se/en?gclid=CKDg1vnc2bECFUsb6wodoFMAuA>.

The beautiful garden at Uppsala and Burser 
Herbarium<http://www.brill.nl/herbarium-j-burser-1583-1639>gave Linnaeus an 
impetus to study Natural History. His great teachers 
Celsius <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Celsius> and 
Rudbeck<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olof_Rudbeck_the_Younger>encouraged him in 
his higher learning. Rudbeck planned the Lapland travels 
for him and a teaching assignment in botany at  Uppsala. During another 
travel in Dalarna <http://www.linnaeus.uu.se/online/life/5_6.html>, he met Sara 
Lisa Moraea <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jan-annel/3850031684/> who became 
his wife later. With a view to broaden his outlook he went to Holland. In 
1735 he received his medical degree from Harderwijk 
University<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Harderwijk>under Prof. 
Gorter <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_de_Gorter>. During this time he 
visited Boerhaave <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Boerhaave> and 
Gronovius <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Frederik_Gronovius>, the 
well-known Dutch Botanists at Leiden. Linnaeus showed his manuscript “Systema 
Naturae <http://www.linnaeus.uu.se/online/animal/1_1.html>” to Gronovius 
who was not only impressed but undertook its immediate publication. 
Boerhaave recommended Linne to John Burman of Amsterdam 
Garden<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Burman>and to George 
Clifford <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clifford_III>, a rich 
Director of the East India Company. For two years he worked at 
Hartecamp<http://www.george-clifford.nl/UK/clifford_UK.htm>where Clifford had a 
famous garden full of plants from the East. During 
this period linnaeus published 12 works including Musa 
Cliffortiana<http://archive.org/details/carolilinnimusa00linngoog>
, Genera Plantarum <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genera_Plantarum>, Flora 
Lapponica <http://archive.org/details/floralapponicaex00wahl> and Bibliotheca 
Botanica <http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/4887>. On a short 
visit to England he met Sir Hans 
Sloane<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Sloane>
, Philip Miller <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Miller> and Professor 
Dillenius <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Jacob_Dillenius>. Before 
returning home Linnaeus visited Paris and stayed with 
Jussieu<http://linnaeus.c18.net/Letters/display_sum.php?id_letter=L1029&person_from=Carl%20Linnaeus&person_to=Bernhard%20de%20Jussieu&date=23%20April%201749>and
 made field trips to Versaille and Fountainbleau. He founded the Royal 
Swedish Academy of Sciences<http://www.kva.se/en/About-the-academy/History/>and 
served as its 1st President in 1739. Later he was appointed Physician 
to Admiralty. He married monandrian Lily Sara Lisa Moraea at Falun in 1739 
and next year became Professor at Uppsala. In 1747 he published the Flora 
Zeylanica <http://archive.org/details/carolilinniflor00dassgoog>.

Linnaeus taught botany and attracted many students from far off countries. 
He was knighted in 1753 as “Polar 
Star<http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/orders/theorderofthepolarstar.4.396160511584257f2180005711.html>”
 
and ennobled in 1762<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus#Ennoblement>. 
He published his Species 
Plantarum(1753)<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_Plantarum>and 12 
editions of Systema <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systema_Naturae>. It can 
be rightly said that Linne is the father of the Binomial System of 
Nomenclature. He sent many pupils to all corners of the globe who in turn 
sent him the tea plant from China, jute from India, and tobacco from 
America. The “apostles’ sailed on high seas and sent seeds from tropical 
jungles. He described many new genera in commemoration of his friends, 
students, benefactors and men of learning. David 
Gorter<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_de_Gorter>, 
the author of Flora Ingrica (1761) had excellently composed a verse on 
Linnaean system of plant identification which reflects the glories of 
Linnaean age.

On January 10th, 1778, Linnaeus had his eternal sleep at 
Hammarby<http://www.hammarby.uu.se/LHeng.html>. 
His friends and students erected a memorial inscribing it to the “Prince of 
Botanists”. Linnean Society of London was founded to spread his ideas; 
memorials were built as mark of respect. Bicentenary of Linnaeus is 
celebrated throughout the botanical world. With acceptance of binomial 
nomenclature for plants, botanical latin and generic concept by 
International code, Linnaeus was immortalised.

“Vivat Scientia ! Vivat Linnaeus”

IMPORTANT WORKS OF LINNAEUS

1732,  Iter Lapponicum

1733,  Iter Dalekarlicum

1735,  Systema Naturae

1736,  Fundamenta Botanica

1736,  Bibliotheca Botanica

1736,  Musa Cliffortiana

1737,  Critica Botanica

1737,  Flora Lapponica

1737,  Genera Plantarum

1738,  Classes Plantarum

1747,  Flora Zeylanica

1748,  Flora Suecica

1748,  Hortus Upsaliensis

1749,  Materia Medica

1749,  Amoenitates Academicae

1751,  Philosophia Botanica

1753,  Species Plantarum

1763,  Genera Morborum

1767,  Mantissa Plantarum

1774. Systema Vegetabilium


EXHIBITION

An Exhibition on the Life and Works of Linnaeus was organised in important 
centres of  the country. The exhibits included Publications of Linnaeus, 
Linnaean Herbarium as Microfiche edition, Portraits  of Linnaeus, 
Photographs of Monuments and Linnaean Plants from India. A function was 
held  at  Indian Museum Complex, Calcutta with live Linnaean taxa displayed 
at Industrial section, Botanical Survey of India.

The text of this document was printed as brochure of 6 pp with an image of 
Linnaeus and a hand drawing of Dryas octopetala L. by Linnaeus in Ms-Iter 
Lapponicum.

The exhibition was held at Waltair, Madras, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, 
Calicut, Peechi, Hyderabad, Pune ,Bombay, Jodhpur, Allahabad, Delhi, 
Dehradun, Lucknow, Shillong, Bhubaneswar, Bhagalpur, Tirupati, Jadavpur 
University,Calcutta as well as Howrah in the Central National Herbarium. 
Few herbarium specimens, live plants and portraits of makers of Indian 
Botany were displayed during the visit of President of India.

Sri D.C.S.Raju, F.L.S., F.B.S., F.I.S.T.E, acknowledeges Dr.S.K.Jain and Dr 
M.P.Nayar, Dr G.H.M.Lawrence and Dr Cramer for their help and inspiration 
to execute this special project.


   - 
   
   A special exhibition on Marine plant resources and mangrove flora of 
   India was organised at Tirupati.
   - 
   
   Live collection of wild relatives of crops were displayed during 
   International Conference on  Genetics
   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*

On Thursday, 9 August 2012 19:09:51 UTC+5:30, surajit koley wrote:
>
> [image: Document] I've shared Carl von Linnaeus - 
> Bicentenary<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s6vQs-xZAVfjKsWIBPbVN56zjjeHmL-hmQtE143fAjc/edit>
>  Click to open: 
>    
>    - Carl von Linnaeus - 
> Bicentenary<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s6vQs-xZAVfjKsWIBPbVN56zjjeHmL-hmQtE143fAjc/edit>
>
>
>  
> Google Drive: create, share and keep all of your stuff in one place. 
> [image: Logo for Google Drive] <https://drive.google.com>
>

-- 



Reply via email to