178 
LINNAEUS 
who was now set upon establishing a Scientific 
Academy publishing in Swedish, and discussed 
his project with Baron Hopken, Jonas Alstrom (after¬ 
wards Alstromer) and Baron S. C. Bjelke. As a 
result of these deliberations an invitation was sent out 
for a meeting at nine a.m. in the lecture room at the 
Riddarhus [Knights’ or Nobles’ House] to start the 
said Royal Academy of Science for the investigation 
of Mathematics, Natural History, Economics, Trade, 
Useful Arts, and Manufactures. 
Such was the modest beginning of this famous 
institution, which has now so powerfully developed, 
and contributed so much to the progress of science 
in Sweden. 
One of the duties of the five persons above 
mentioned in founding the Academy, was to decide 
by lot who should be the first President, and this fell 
upon Linnaeus. Thus it happened that within a 
month he became a public lecturer at the Riddarhus, 
physician to the Admiralty with a salary, and first 
President of the Academy. 
Thus everything had gone well with him in Stock¬ 
holm, surpassing his boldest hopes. He had won 
both respect and income, amounting annually to 9,000 
copper dalers [^225] so now he trusted that 
the time had come for his marriage. On Trinity 
Sunday, 17th June, he started from Stockholm for his 
future father-in-law’s house (“ Sweden ”) at Falun, 
where the wedding was celebrated on the 26th June, 
according to the old time customs and rejoicings, the 
bridegroom being greeted by verses upon his system 
as having obtained in Dalecarlia “ a monandrian 
lily ”; an allusion to the Linnean system, as of a 
single-stamened, or “ one-man ” flower. This mar¬ 
riage was followed in due course by the birth of a son 
on the 20th January 1741, who was baptized with the 
name of Carl. He was able to say, that with the good’ 
fortune he now enjoyed, thanks to God and Count 
Tessin, he lived in great enjoyment and comfort. 
