François Huber
Encyclopedia
François Huber was a Swiss
naturalist
.
He was born at Geneva
, of a family which had already made its mark in the literary and scientific world: his great-aunt, Marie Huber
, was known as a voluminous writer on religious and theological subjects, and as the translator and epitomizer of The Spectator
(Amsterdam, 3 vols., 1753); and his father Jean Huber
(1721–1786), who had served for many years as a soldier, was a prominent member of the coterie at Ferney, distinguishing himself by his Observations sur le vol des oiseaux (Geneva, 1784).
François Huber was only fifteen years old when he began to suffer from a disease which gradually resulted in total blindness; but, with the aid of his wife, Marie Aimée Lullin, and of his servant, François Burnens, he was able to carry out investigations that laid the foundations of a scientific knowledge of the life history of the honey bee
. His Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles was published at Geneva in 1792 (Eng. trans., 1806).
He assisted Jean Senebier in his Mém. sur l'influence de l'air, etc., dans la germination (Geneva, 1800); and he also wrote "Mém. sur l'origine de la cire" (Bibliothèque britannique, tome xxv.), a "Lettre a M. Pictet sur certains dangers que courent les abeilles" (Bib. brit. xxvii), and "Nouvelles Observ. rel. au sphinx Atropos" (Bib. brit. xxvii). He died at Lausanne
on 22 December 1831. A. P. de Candolle
gave his name to a genus of Brazil
ian trees—Huberia burma.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
naturalist
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...
.
He was born at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, of a family which had already made its mark in the literary and scientific world: his great-aunt, Marie Huber
Marie Huber
Marie Huber was a Swiss writer on theology and related subjects, as well as a translator and editor. She promoted universalism. She was the aunt of François Huber, the naturalist....
, was known as a voluminous writer on religious and theological subjects, and as the translator and epitomizer of The Spectator
The Spectator (1711)
The Spectator was a daily publication of 1711–12, founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England after they met at Charterhouse School. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, also contributed to the publication. Each 'paper', or 'number', was approximately 2,500 words long, and the...
(Amsterdam, 3 vols., 1753); and his father Jean Huber
Jean Huber
Jean Huber was the father of François Huber, the naturalist. He had served for many years as a soldier and was a prominent member of the coterie at Ferney, distinguishing himself by his observations on the flight of birds ....
(1721–1786), who had served for many years as a soldier, was a prominent member of the coterie at Ferney, distinguishing himself by his Observations sur le vol des oiseaux (Geneva, 1784).
François Huber was only fifteen years old when he began to suffer from a disease which gradually resulted in total blindness; but, with the aid of his wife, Marie Aimée Lullin, and of his servant, François Burnens, he was able to carry out investigations that laid the foundations of a scientific knowledge of the life history of the honey bee
Honey bee
Honey bees are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. Honey bees are the only extant members of the tribe Apini, all in the genus Apis...
. His Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles was published at Geneva in 1792 (Eng. trans., 1806).
He assisted Jean Senebier in his Mém. sur l'influence de l'air, etc., dans la germination (Geneva, 1800); and he also wrote "Mém. sur l'origine de la cire" (Bibliothèque britannique, tome xxv.), a "Lettre a M. Pictet sur certains dangers que courent les abeilles" (Bib. brit. xxvii), and "Nouvelles Observ. rel. au sphinx Atropos" (Bib. brit. xxvii). He died at Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
on 22 December 1831. A. P. de Candolle
A. P. de Candolle
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle also spelled Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at an herbarium...
gave his name to a genus of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian trees—Huberia burma.
External links
- The full text of 'New Observations on the Natural History of Bees' by François Huber 1806 English edition
- Complete scan of 'New Observations on the Natural History of Bees' by François Huber 1806 English edition
- The Beekeeper's Pupil, by Sara George. A fictional account of M. Huber's research in the form of a diary by his manservant-turned-assistant.