Anders Jahan Retzius
Encyclopedia
Anders Jahan Retzius was a Swedish
chemist
, botanist and entomologist.
, he matriculated at Lund University
in 1758, where he graduated as a filosofie magister in 1766. He also trained as an apothecary apprentice. He reveived the position of docent of chemistry at Lund in 1766, of natural history
in 1767. He became extraordinary professor of natural history in 1777, and thereafter held various chairs of natural history, economy and chemistry until his retitrement in 1812. He died in Stockholm
on October 6, 1821.
He described many new species
of insects and did fundamental work on their classification
.
Retzius was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
in 1782.
He was the father of Anders Retzius
and grandfather of Gustaf Retzius
. Disciples of Anders Jahan Retzius include the botanist Carl Adolph Agardh
, the zoologist and archaeologist Sven Nilsson
, the botanist and entomologist Carl Fredrik Fallén
, and the entomologist Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt
. He was also an influence on the botanist Elias Fries who arrived in Lund by the time Retzius was already an old man.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, botanist and entomologist.
Biography
Born in KristianstadKristianstad
Kristianstad is a city and the seat of Kristianstad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 35,711 inhabitants in 2010.-History:The city was founded in 1614 by King Christian IV of Denmark, the city's name literally means 'Town of Christian', as a planned city after the burning of the town of Vä...
, he matriculated at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in 1758, where he graduated as a filosofie magister in 1766. He also trained as an apothecary apprentice. He reveived the position of docent of chemistry at Lund in 1766, of natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
in 1767. He became extraordinary professor of natural history in 1777, and thereafter held various chairs of natural history, economy and chemistry until his retitrement in 1812. He died in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
on October 6, 1821.
He described many new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of insects and did fundamental work on their classification
Categorization
Categorization is the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Categorization implies that objects are grouped into categories, usually for some specific purpose. Ideally, a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge...
.
Retzius was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
in 1782.
He was the father of Anders Retzius
Anders Retzius
Anders Retzius , was a Swedish professor of anatomy and a supervisor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm....
and grandfather of Gustaf Retzius
Gustaf Retzius
Magnus Gustaf Retzius was a Swedish physician and anatomist who dedicated a large part of his life to researching the histology of the sense organs and nervous system.-Biography:...
. Disciples of Anders Jahan Retzius include the botanist Carl Adolph Agardh
Carl Adolph Agardh
Carl Adolph Agardh was a Swedish botanist specializing in algae, who was eventually appointed bishop of Karlstad.-Biography:...
, the zoologist and archaeologist Sven Nilsson
Sven Nilsson
Sven Nilsson was a Swedish zoologist and archaeologist, who was director of the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet , professor of Natural history at Lund University , and rector of the university...
, the botanist and entomologist Carl Fredrik Fallén
Carl Fredrik Fallén
Carl Fredrik Fallén was a Swedish botanist and entomologist.Fallén taught at the Lund University. He wrote Diptera Sueciae .In 1817, Fallen discovered the Muscina stabulans species of flies....
, and the entomologist Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt
Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt
Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt was a Swedish naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera.-Biography:Zetterstedt studied at the University of Lund, where he was a pupil of Anders Jahan Retzius. He received the title of professor in 1822 and succeeded Carl Adolph Agardh as professor of botany...
. He was also an influence on the botanist Elias Fries who arrived in Lund by the time Retzius was already an old man.
Selected works
- Inledning till djur-riket : efter herr archiatern och riddaren Carl von Linnés lärogrunder (1772)
- Observationes botanicae (1778-91)
- Floræ Scandinaviæ prodromus; enumerans: plantas Sveciae, Lapponiae, Finlandiae, Pomeraniae, Daniae, Norvegiae, Holsatiae, Islandiae & Groenlandiae (HolmiæStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
1779; 2nd edition (1795) - (edited and revised:) Charles De GeerCharles De GeerBaron Charles de Geer was a Swedish industrialist and entomologist.- Life :...
, Genera et species insectorum, e generosissimi auctoris scriptis extraxit, digessit, quoad portem reddidit, et terminologiam insectorum Linneanam addidit (1783) - Lectiones publicæ de vermibus intestinalibus (1784)
- Försök til mineral-rikets upställning. (1795)
- (edited and revised:) Carolus LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, Faunae Svecicae a C à Linné inchoatae pars prima sistens mammalia, aves, amphibia et pisces Sueciae quam recognovit, emendavit et auxit (1800). - Försök til en Flora Oeconomica Sveciae, eller swenska wäxters nytta och skada i hushållningen (1806-07)