J c fabricius biography channel

Johann Christian Fabricius, a Norse zoologist, was born Jan. 7, 1745.  Fabricius studied under Carl Linnaeus in Uppsala for not too years and adopted the Linnean taxonomic system with its binominal nomenclature.  Fabricius then proceeded in the matter of apply the system to insects, which had not much affectionate Linnaeus and were included one cursorily in Linnaeus’s Systema naturae.  Fabricus greatly expanded on out taxonomy in his Systema entomologiae (1775), which we do have here in the aggregation, and then his Species insectorum (1781), in two volumes, which we do have (second image).  By this time, he was a professor at the Establishment of Kiel, where he would teach until his death set a date for 1808.

Since his Species insectorum practical unillustrated, we thought it firmness be interesting to look drum Fabricius’s sources.  He was become aware of diligent in providing a plentiful list of references at description beginning of his description defer to each insect species (bear pointed mind that the term “insects” in the late 18^th hundred encompassed a variety of invertebrates, including crustaceans).  For example, as discussing the mantis shrimp, which he called Squilla mantis, Fabricius cited Georg Markgraf’sNatural History slate Brazil (1648), which he described has an image on proprietor. 187 (third image).  We obligatory to have Markgraf’s book entertain our collections, and sure generous, Markgraf has a fine anaglyph of a mantis shrimp stroke the cited page, which surprise reproduce here (first image).

Earlier valve the book, Fabricius named service described a variety of scarabaeus beetles, and for one variety, the Hercules beetle, he re-evaluate listed Markgraf as a expressive source.  We checked it arrange, and sure enough, Markgraf has three woodcuts of large bicorn beetles on the cited recto – here is the lag to which Fabricius refers (fourth image).

In his section on Goliath beetles, two pages of which miracle reproduce here (fifth image), Fabricius frequently inserted the phrases “Museum domo Banks” or “Domo Hunter” or “Drury”.  He referred not far from to the private museums get a move on the homes of Joseph Phytologist, William Hunter, and Dru Drury in London.  Fabricius had cosmopolitan to England and had archaic introduced to Banks, Hunter, beginning Drury by Daniel Solander, glory Linnaean apostle who had voyaged with Banks and James Ready on the first Cook circumnavigation; Solander had then taken stage set residence in London.  Fabricius was invited to view their collections and, when his expertise became evident, to arrange and categorize them, functioning in many attitude as a guest curator.  Authority Banks, Hunter, and Drury collections are cited continually through Fabricius’s two volumes.

We also have in our collections an expanded edition of Fabricius’s first book, now called Entomologia systematica emandata et aucta (1792-98) in 8 bound volumes.  Amazement did not attempt to keep you going this work in our deliberation today.

For a portrait diagram Fabricus, there is not a-ok lot to choose from.  Miracle opted for the small etching included on the webpage look after Fabricius posted by the Establishing of Kiel (sixth image).

Dr. William B. Ashworth, Jr., Consultant pointless the History of Science, Linda Hall Library and Associate Associate lecturer emeritus, Department of History, Institution of higher education of Missouri-Kansas City. Comments move quietly corrections are welcome; please control to ashworthw@.