MEMOIR OF DE GEER. 
G1 
celebrated Muschenbrock, with whom be was on 
terms of intimacy. His studies were commenced at 
Utrecht, but he afterwards removed to Upsal, where 
he had the advantage of enjoying the combined in- 
structions of Linnaeus, Celsius, and Klengenstiern. 
Under such masters his progress in physical science 
was rapid ; and it was not long before opportunities 
occurred to afford proofs of his proficiency. 
By the death of an uncle, lie came into possession, 
at an early age, of one of the largest fortunes in 
Sweden. The extensive iron mines of Dannemora 
became his property ; and he expended large sums in 
improving the mode of working them. Every scheme 
tending to promote the prosperity of his country, 
and the spiritual and temporal welfare of its inhab- 
itants, found in him a zealous and intelligent patron. 
His wealth he liberally shared with the poor, and 
devoted no small part of his income to the repairing 
of churches, and the founding of hospitals and schools 
But these philanthropic objects did not divert his 
attention from the pursuits of science ; on the con- 
trary, he continued to cultivate his favourite branch 
of Natural History with the utmost zeal and assi- 
duity. As a member of the Academy of Stockholm, 
he regularly attended its meetings, and supplied 
many interesting memoirs in different departments of 
knowledge. His observations on insects were now 
beginning to accumulate, and he read a few papers 
on the subject to the society, which are inserted in 
the early volumes of their Transactions. But these 
observations soon became so extensive and import- 
