Giacomo Filippo Durazzo
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Filippo Durazzo III (1719–1812) was the head of the wealthiest 18th century family in Genoa
, Italy
, and a notable naturalist and bibliophile. He was instrumental in organizing the natural history collections in the University of Genoa
and the city's Civic Museum of Natural History.
Durazzo was the son of Marcello Durazzo (1703–1787) and Clelia Durazzo (1709–1782). His descendents include Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi
and Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini, both naturalists in their own right.
Over the course of 30 years, Durazzo collected more than 4,000 books, as well as many specimens of minerals, fossils, shells, physical and electrical devices, etc. In the 1780s Durazzo established a natural history cabinet and a laboratory in his private villa of Cornigliano. Its collection was documented by English botanist James Edward Smith
in 1787, but after Durazzo's death, it was not preserved.
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and a notable naturalist and bibliophile. He was instrumental in organizing the natural history collections in the University of Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
and the city's Civic Museum of Natural History.
Durazzo was the son of Marcello Durazzo (1703–1787) and Clelia Durazzo (1709–1782). His descendents include Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi
Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi
Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi , also known as Clelia Durazzo, was a botanist and marchesa in Genoa, Italy.-Biography:She was the daughter of Giacomo Filippo Durazzo and Maddalena Pallavicini. Her father was a member of one of the most illustrious and aristocratic Genoese families, as well as a notable...
and Ignazio Alessandro Pallavicini, both naturalists in their own right.
Over the course of 30 years, Durazzo collected more than 4,000 books, as well as many specimens of minerals, fossils, shells, physical and electrical devices, etc. In the 1780s Durazzo established a natural history cabinet and a laboratory in his private villa of Cornigliano. Its collection was documented by English botanist James Edward Smith
James Edward Smith
Sir James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a precocious interest in the natural world...
in 1787, but after Durazzo's death, it was not preserved.