Charles De Geer
Encyclopedia
Baron Charles de Geer was a Swedish industrialist and entomologist.
from the age of three but returned to Sweden as a young man. He inherited the entailed manor and important iron-works of Leufsta (Lövsta) in Uppland
from his childless uncle and namesake and substantially increased the wealth of the estate.
Ever since he had received a present of some silk worms at the age of eight, he had an interest in entomology
and became a respected amateur entomologist at an early age. His major work was the Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes (eight volumes, 1752-1778). He was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
already in 1739, at the age of nineteen, and a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences
in 1748.
He is buried with his spouse in Uppsala Cathedral
. His collections of insects were donated to the Academy of Sciences and now belong to the Swedish Museum of Natural History
in Stockholm. He left a library at Leufsta which, among other things, included the papers of Olaus Rudbeck
and an important collection of 18th century sheet music
. The Leufsta library was acquired by Uppsala University Library
in 1986 after a donation by Katarina Crafoord (one of the daughters of Holger Crafoord
, the founder of Gambro
).
. Hence his modelling Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes on Réaumur’s work of the same title. It, too, is in French, similarly in large quarto and with the same decorations. The Mémoires deal with 1,466 species
, treating life histories, food and reproduction based on careful, patient investigation and analysis of existing literature. There are 238 copper plates
. The descriptions are acutely observed.
In nomenclature De Geer was less progressive; Volume 1 of the Mémoires (1752) was too early to employ the binomial
system invented by his fellow Swede Linnaeus
. Volume 2 (1771) did not use it, but in Volumes 3 (1773) to Volume 7 (1778) the Linnean system was employed. However, for many species De Geer used two or more words for a specific name, such as Aphis betulae nigro punctata, these names were not binominal in the Linnean sense. He also proposed different names for many species which had previously been named and described by Linnaeus. It seems that using Linnean names was a concession to usage as in the 1760s and 1770s the Linnean system became increasingly employed, not because De Geer liked the new system. They had differences "not everyone sees things in the same light, and people have the weakness of frequently being too fond of their own opinions" (letter to Linnaeus 16 October, 1772) and "if here and there I am still of a different opinion, I am now, as before, asking you not to take it amiss" (letter to Linnaeus 23 February 1774).
Life
De Geer, who came from a family with strong Dutch connections, grew up in UtrechtUtrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
from the age of three but returned to Sweden as a young man. He inherited the entailed manor and important iron-works of Leufsta (Lövsta) in Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
from his childless uncle and namesake and substantially increased the wealth of the estate.
Ever since he had received a present of some silk worms at the age of eight, he had an interest in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and became a respected amateur entomologist at an early age. His major work was the Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes (eight volumes, 1752-1778). He 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...
already in 1739, at the age of nineteen, and a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
in 1748.
He is buried with his spouse in Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral is a cathedral located centrally in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. It dates back to the late 13th century and at a height of 118.7 m is the tallest church building in Scandinavia. Originally built under Roman Catholicism and used for coronations of the Swedish monarch, since the...
. His collections of insects were donated to the Academy of Sciences and now belong to the Swedish Museum of Natural History
Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish Museum of Natural History , in Stockholm, is one of two major museums of natural history in Sweden, the other one being located in Gothenburg....
in Stockholm. He left a library at Leufsta which, among other things, included the papers of Olaus Rudbeck
Olaus Rudbeck
Olaus Rudbeck was a Swedish scientist and writer, professor of medicine at Uppsala University and for several periods rector magnificus of the same university...
and an important collection of 18th century sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
. The Leufsta library was acquired by Uppsala University Library
Uppsala University Library
Uppsala University Library at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, consists of 12 subject libraries, one of which is housed in the old main library building, Carolina Rediviva...
in 1986 after a donation by Katarina Crafoord (one of the daughters of Holger Crafoord
Holger Crafoord
Holger Crafoord was a Swedish industrialist and founded Gambro along with Nils Alwall, a company that would commercialize Alwall's research into artificial kidneys. He donated the initial funds for the establishment of the Crafoord Prize for scientific research.-See also:*Lund School of Economics...
, the founder of Gambro
Gambro
Gambro is a global medical technology companythat manufactures products for Dialysis treatment.The company is a global leader in developing, manufacturing andsupplying products and therapies for Kidneyand Liver Dialysis, Myeloma Kidney Therapy, and other...
).
Achievements
De Geer was a great admirer of RéaumurRené Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur
René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur was a French scientist who contributed to many different fields, especially the study of insects.-Life:Réaumur was born in a prominent La Rochelle family and educated in Paris...
. Hence his modelling Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes on Réaumur’s work of the same title. It, too, is in French, similarly in large quarto and with the same decorations. The Mémoires deal with 1,466 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...
, treating life histories, food and reproduction based on careful, patient investigation and analysis of existing literature. There are 238 copper plates
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
. The descriptions are acutely observed.
In nomenclature De Geer was less progressive; Volume 1 of the Mémoires (1752) was too early to employ the binomial
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
system invented by his fellow Swede Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl 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...
. Volume 2 (1771) did not use it, but in Volumes 3 (1773) to Volume 7 (1778) the Linnean system was employed. However, for many species De Geer used two or more words for a specific name, such as Aphis betulae nigro punctata, these names were not binominal in the Linnean sense. He also proposed different names for many species which had previously been named and described by Linnaeus. It seems that using Linnean names was a concession to usage as in the 1760s and 1770s the Linnean system became increasingly employed, not because De Geer liked the new system. They had differences "not everyone sees things in the same light, and people have the weakness of frequently being too fond of their own opinions" (letter to Linnaeus 16 October, 1772) and "if here and there I am still of a different opinion, I am now, as before, asking you not to take it amiss" (letter to Linnaeus 23 February 1774).
Works
- Tal om nyttan, som Insecterne och deras skärskådande, tilskynda oss, ... Stockholm 1744-47.
- Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes. Grefing & Hesselberg, Stockholm 1752-78.
- Tal, om insecternas alstring. Stockholm 1754.
- Abhandlungen zur Geschichte der Insecten. Müller & Raspe, Leipzig, Nürnberg 1776-83 p.m.
- Genera et species insectorum. Crusium, Leipzig 1783 p.m.
Common insects described by De Geer
- Camponotus pennsylvanicus, the black carpenter antBlack carpenter antThe black carpenter ant is a species of carpenter ant. It is the most common carpenter ant pest in the United States.-Appearance:...
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - Dermestes maculatus, a Skin beetleSkin beetleDermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. They can range in size from 1–12 mm. Key...
, Coleoptera 1774 - Xestobium rufovillosum, the Death watch beetleDeath watch beetleThe death watch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, is a woodboring beetle. The adult beetle is long, while the xylophagous larvae are up to long....
, Coleoptera 1774 - Meconema thalassinum, Oak bush-cricket, OrthopteraOrthopteraOrthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...
1773 Picture - Gasterophilus intestinalis, Horse BotflyBotflyA botfly is any fly in the family Oestridae, which includes all the members of the former families Cuterebridae, Gasterophilidae, and Hypodermatidae. It is the only family of flies whose larvae live as obligate parasites within the bodies of mammals, with the exception of a few screwworm flies in...
, DipteraDipteraDiptera , or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. It is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species, although under half...
1776 - Episyrphus balteatus, a HoverflyHoverflyHoverflies, sometimes called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae eat a wide range of foods...
, DipteraDipteraDiptera , or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. It is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species, although under half...
1776 - Triatoma rubrofasciata, TriatominaeTriatominaeThe members of Triatominae , a subfamily of Reduviidae, are also known as conenose bugs, kissing bugs, assassin bugs or triatomines. Most of the 130 or more species of this subfamily are haematophagous, i.e. feed on vertebrate blood; a very few species feed on other invertebrates...
, HemipteraHemipteraHemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...
1773 - Erythrodiplax unimaculata, a DragonflyDragonflyA dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
1773 - Anasa tristis, Squash bugSquash bugAnasa tristis of the family Coreidae is a major pest of squash and pumpkins, and is a vector of the cucurbit yellow vine disease bacterium...
External links
- Charles de Geer Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des insectes, digital facsimile at the Gallica website.