Daniel Rolander
Encyclopedia
Daniel Rolander was a Swedish biologist
and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus
.
Rolander was born in Hälleberga, Småland
, Sweden
and studied at Uppsala University
where he came under the influence of Linnaeus. In 1755, Rolander went to Surinam to study and collect plants, which he sent back to Sweden. He recorded his seven months' activities in his journal, Diarium Surinamicum, quod sub itinere exotico conscripsit Daniel Rolander, tomus I & II, 1754-1756. Rolander's work was used by Christen Friis Rottbøll
as the basis of botanical publications later in the 18th century.
Rolander also made extensive zoological
observations, focusing on insect
s. While in Surinam, he traveled and collected extensively around Paramaribo
at first and then up the Suriname River
. Fearing for his health, the naturalist returned to Europe but was unable to return to Sweden until October 1756, nine months after leaving the Americas. Apparently because of his lack of help in getting home from Germany
and his refusal to give his mentor access to the Surinam collections with first being offered an academic post, Rolander and Linnaeus had a severe falling-out. Linnaeus' power and prestige in the academic world made it possible for him to blackball Rolander. Thus, he was unable to gain an academic position and did not publish his findings, gradually drifting into obscurity and poverty due to a misfortune (perhaps the death of a patron he had finally found) and his apparently abrasive personality.
He died in Lund
. With his Latin
journals now translated and published, his reputation is being rehabilitated.
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus
Apostles of Linnaeus
The Apostles of Linnaeus were a group of students who carried out botanical and zoological expeditions throughout the world that were either devised or approved by botanist Carl Linnaeus. The expeditions took place during the latter half of the 18th century and the students were designated...
.
Rolander was born in Hälleberga, Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
, Sweden
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....
and studied at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
where he came under the influence of Linnaeus. In 1755, Rolander went to Surinam to study and collect plants, which he sent back to Sweden. He recorded his seven months' activities in his journal, Diarium Surinamicum, quod sub itinere exotico conscripsit Daniel Rolander, tomus I & II, 1754-1756. Rolander's work was used by Christen Friis Rottbøll
Christen Friis Rottbøll
Christen Friis Rottbøll was a Danish physician and botanist and pupil of Carolus Linnaeus....
as the basis of botanical publications later in the 18th century.
Rolander also made extensive zoological
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
observations, focusing on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. While in Surinam, he traveled and collected extensively around Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
at first and then up the Suriname River
Suriname River
The Suriname River is 480 km long and flows through the country Suriname. Its sources are located in the Guiana Highlands on the border between the Wilhelmina Mountains and the Eilerts de Haan Mountains...
. Fearing for his health, the naturalist returned to Europe but was unable to return to Sweden until October 1756, nine months after leaving the Americas. Apparently because of his lack of help in getting home from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and his refusal to give his mentor access to the Surinam collections with first being offered an academic post, Rolander and Linnaeus had a severe falling-out. Linnaeus' power and prestige in the academic world made it possible for him to blackball Rolander. Thus, he was unable to gain an academic position and did not publish his findings, gradually drifting into obscurity and poverty due to a misfortune (perhaps the death of a patron he had finally found) and his apparently abrasive personality.
He died in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
. With his Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
journals now translated and published, his reputation is being rehabilitated.
Sources
- Eisner, Thomas, Jayne Yack and Daniel J. Aneshansley 2001 "Acoustic Concomitants of the Defensive Discharges of a Primitive Bombardier beetle (Metrius contractus)," Chemoecology 11(4): 221-223.
- http://www.ikfoundation.org/linnaeus/apostles/d-rolander.html
- Pain, Stephanie 2007 "The Forgotten Apostle," New Scientist 195 (4 August 2007): 41-45.
Further reading
- The Linnaeus Apostles - Global Science and Adventure: Daniel Rolander's Journal, translated by James Dobreff, David Morgan, Claes Dahlman and Josheph Tipton, ed. Lars Hansen. IK Foundation.