20 
MEMOIR OF SWAMMERDAM. 
this individual, and of Barentje Corver, daughter of 
John Jansz Corver, and was born at Amsterdam, on 
the J 2th February, 1637. 
He was from the first intended for one of the 
learned professions, and was early instructed in Latin 
and Greek with that view. As he grew up, his 
father formed the wish that he should study for the 
church, but from some cause or other he was him- 
self disinclined to this step, and soon ceased to con- 
template it. This probably arose from the high sense 
he entertained of the responsibility attached to the 
sacred office, and an apprehension that his talents 
and disposition might not fit him to discharge its 
duties in a manner commensurate with the idea he 
had formed of their importance. Under these cir- 
cumstances, he obtained his father’s consent to apply 
himself to medicine, a study well adapted to his in- 
clinations, as attracting his attention to physical pur- 
suits. Another strong incitement to such investiga- 
tions was presented by the contents of his father's 
museum, which he was employed in arranging and 
keeping in a proper state of preservation. tc This 
occupation," says the learned Boerhaave, to whom 
we are indebted for an interesting Life of Swammer- 
dam, c< led him to examine natural objects, even 
from his childhood, with the greatest attention. He 
soon ceased to be contented with what his father had 
purchased, and began to form a collection for himself. 
He devoted himself, in particular, to the examination 
of insects, pursued them in the fields, purchased 
them, exchanged other objects for them, and com- 
