INTRODUCTION 
The following pages have been written to make 
known to English readers the monumental “ Life of 
Carl von Linne ” by the late Professor T. M. Fries 
(1832-1913) by far the most detailed and accurate 
account of the great Swedish naturalist ever 
published. 
The author was admirably equipped for his task. 
His father, Professor E. M. Fries (1794-1878), was 
born at Femsjo in the same province, Smaland, as 
Linne; he spent his scientific career at Lund and 
Uppsala and in his household cherished the Linnean 
traditions. His eldest son was born at the father’s 
birthplace, but, at the early age of four was taken to 
Uppsala, where his father was then a professor; 
thanks, however, to the Linnean atmosphere main¬ 
tained in his home, he became imbued with the 
phrases and dialect of his eminent predecessor. In 
due time, after many years as Docent, he became pro¬ 
fessor in 1877 in the subjects of botany and practical 
economy, with control of both botanic gardens, the 
old one having Linne’s house in it; later, when by his 
exertion the residence of Linne at Hammerby became 
the property of the state, he was appointed the first 
administrator. For six years he filled the distin¬ 
guished office of Rector magnificus, during which time 
he gave eight rectorial addresses on the first half of 
Linne’s life, and three years after vacating his chair, 
he published the life which is the basis of the account 
here presented, the result of more than thirty years of 
constant research. Thus he was not only nurtured in 
the Linnean tradition, but he had access to* the 
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