MEMOIR OF IINN^US. 
53 
render him fit for, and to see him his successor in, the 
botanical chair. Let us see how these wishes were 
achieved.* 
We have now brought down the principal incidents 
in the life of this great naturalist, to the time, when, 
though only fifty-six years of age, he felt the vigour 
of his constitution impaired, and his versatile mind 
commencing to wane. He was conscious that he had 
fulfilled his adopted motto, “ Famam extendere factis,” 
and was willing to relinquish his office before its duties 
became too severe for his declining health ; and after 
academical services for a period of thirty years, Lin- 
neeus respectfully entreated his majesty, Gustavus, 
who had succeeded to the throne upon the demise of 
his parent, to accept his resignation. His request 
was declined with the most flattering objections, and 
* Young Linmeus was born on the 20th January 1741, at 
Fahlun, the capital of Dalecarlia. At an early age he was placed 
under private tutors, and it was intended that he should study the 
science in which his father had gained so much roputation and 
honour. When only eighteen years of age, he was appointed 
demonstrator in the botanic garden at Upsala ; three years after 
ho becamo an author, and published descriptions of the rarer plants 
in the garden, and in the year following, was made assistant and 
successor to his father in the professorship. After his appoint- 
ment, ho travelled through France, England, Holland, and Ger- 
many, and his father’s name everywhere procured him introductions. 
Upon his return to Upsala, he was taken ill of a bilious fever, 
which was succeeded by an apoplectic stroke, and terminated his 
life in the forty-second year of his age. With his death termina- 
ted also the male branch of the family of Linneeus. 
