Posts Tagged ‘17th Century Science’
Sowing the Seeds of Scientific Language: John Ray’s Linguistic Legacy
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 29, 1627 On this day, a seed of scientific inquiry was planted in the fertile soil of England – John Ray, destined to become a pioneering naturalist and writer, drew his first…
Read MoreRudolph Jacob Camerarius: The Botanist Who Demonstrated Plant Sexuality
The Anther and the Pistol February 17, 1721 Today is the anniversary of the death of Rudolph Jacob Camerarius, the botanist who demonstrated the existence of sexes in plants. Rudolph was born in Germany. He was a professor of natural philosophy. Rudolph identified and defined the flower’s male parts as the anther, and he did…
Read MoreJan Swammerdam: The Biologist Who Revealed the Secrets of the Hive
Queen Bee February 12, 1637 Today is the birthday of the Dutch biologist and entomologist Jan Swammerdam (Yahn SWAH-MER-dam). Before Jan’s work, people believed that insects were created spontaneously. Jan proved that insects were born from eggs laid by the female species and that the larva, pupa, and adult, were just different forms of the…
Read MoreJan Swammerdam: The Scientist Who Revealed the Secrets of the Hive
Queen Bee Today is the birthday of the Dutch biologist and entomologist Jan Swammerdam (Yahn SWAH-MER-dam). Before Jan’s work, people believed that insects created spontaneously. Jan proved that insects were born from eggs laid by the female of the species and that the larva, pupa, and adult, were just different forms of the same species.…
Read MoreJohn Ray: Father of English Botany and Pioneer Naturalist of the Seventeenth Century
The Father of English Botany January 17, 1705 Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist and theologian John Ray. Ray is regarded as the most distinguished British naturalist of the seventeenth century and “The Father of English Botany.” Ray was born to a blacksmith, and his mother was an herbalist. He was…
Read MoreMaria Sibylla Merian: Remembering the Naturalist and Botanical Illustrator
Milkweed for the Monarchs Today is the anniversary of the death of the naturalist and botanical illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian. She was born on April 2, 1647. As a frame of reference, Isaac Newton was only a few years older than her. Unlike Newton, Merian’s work was largely forgotten over time. However, during the past…
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