BRIEFER ARTICLES 
LINNAEUS: 
May 23, 1707—JANUARY Io, 1778 
(WITH TWO PORTRAITS) 
The history of scientific progress has been marked by a few epochs 
introduced by new and revolutionary ideas. After a long period of almost 
no advancement, science has suddenly been carried forward in a most 
remarkable way. Such epochs have been few, and few are the men who 
have continued to be held in highest esteem with the steady progress of 
modern science. Among them was one who rose from humble descent to 
become the leading naturalist of the eighteenth century, and whose name 
is still among those most revered wherever natural science is taught or 
cultivated—Linnarus. Now that the day is at hand when his two-hun- 
dredth anniversary is to be observed throughout the scientific world, a brief 
sketch of his life and work is appropriate. 
Between Lindshult and Jonsboda, in Sweden, there stood formerly 
an old and very large linden tree from which two brothers, the sons of a 
peasant, InceMAR SvENssoN, adopted the surname TILIANDER; from 
this same tree their sister’s son, Nits IncEMARsSON, took the name Lin- 
NAEUS. NILs INGEMARSSON was a minister, and his first living was in 
Raashult, the parish of Stenbrohult in Smaaland. He married CHRISTINA 
BropersoniA, and their first-born child was a boy who was christened 
ARL LinnaEus. From his early childhood this boy showed an unmis- 
takable love for flowers. His father was quite interested in botany and 
took pride in making the little garden of the parsonage one of the richest 
in flowers and rare shrubs. At the age of about four years CARL accom- 
panied his father to a meeting; it was a fine summer day, and his father 
gathered several plants which he demonstrated before the guests, showing 
the peculiar roots of some orchids, Succisa, Tormentilla, and others. 
This little lecture in botany made such an impression upon the boy that 
he afterward never gave his father any peace, but repeatedly asked for 
more information and never tired of learning the names of all the plants 
he could collect. This incident was the first revelation of his genius; 
he 200th anniversary of the birth of ice is to be celebrated in many 
places during May, and the BorantcaL GAZETTE wishes to share in honoring the 
memory of so notable a botanist. At its seaqiea ie sketch has be en prepared by 
HEO. 
ve ie Ho.m, whose selection for the task is — by his high « esteem of the 
man and intimate knowledge of his life and work.— 
Botanical Gazette, vol. 43] [336 
