Linnéska institutet
Encyclopedia
The Linnéska institutet (Linnaean Institute) was a short-lived scientific society at Uppsala University
in the early 19th century. It has the distinction of being the first student society in Uppsala preoccupied with the natural sciences.
The society was originally founded in 1800 by a few students under the name Societas pro historia naturali ("Society for Natural History"), which was changed in 1802 to Zoophytolithiska sällskapet ("Zoophytolithic Society") and finally in 1807 to Linnéska institutet ("Linnaean Institute". The Linnaean disciple Adam Afzelius
, then botanices demonstrator (and later professor), was elected its president in 1802. At the time of its last change of name in 1807, done to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Linnaeus'
birth, the society had a memorial medal
made and published the only fascicle of Linnéska institutets skrifter ("Publications of the Linnaean Institute"); this issue, which was the only one ever published, was reprinted in an edition of Johan Markus Hulth in 1906. Activities ceased in 1813.
Besides Afzelius, members or collaborators in the only issue of the journal included Lars Herman Gyllenhaal
(later Swedish prime minister for justice), the geologist and mining engineer Jacob Henrik af Forselles, the palaeozoologist Johan Wilhelm Dalman
, the collector Gabriel Marklin, the physician Carl Stenhammar (later a professor at Karolinska Institutet
), and the later civil servant and amateur naturalist Baron Fredrik Anton Wrangel. Dalman, who was secretary of the society, had appreciated it as an unpretentious meeting place for informal discussions between students and teachers, but resented the pompuous character it acquired with the change of name and the magnificent celebration of the Linnaean anniversary in 1807, which he likened to a funeral service for the society.
The remaining protocols and other papers of the Society are kept in Uppsala University Library
.
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...
in the early 19th century. It has the distinction of being the first student society in Uppsala preoccupied with the natural sciences.
The society was originally founded in 1800 by a few students under the name Societas pro historia naturali ("Society for Natural History"), which was changed in 1802 to Zoophytolithiska sällskapet ("Zoophytolithic Society") and finally in 1807 to Linnéska institutet ("Linnaean Institute". The Linnaean disciple Adam Afzelius
Adam Afzelius
Adam Afzelius was a Swedish botanist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Afzelius was born at Larv in Västergötland in 1750. He was appointed teacher of oriental languages at Uppsala University in 1777, and in 1785 demonstrator of botany...
, then botanices demonstrator (and later professor), was elected its president in 1802. At the time of its last change of name in 1807, done to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 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...
birth, the society had a memorial medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
made and published the only fascicle of Linnéska institutets skrifter ("Publications of the Linnaean Institute"); this issue, which was the only one ever published, was reprinted in an edition of Johan Markus Hulth in 1906. Activities ceased in 1813.
Besides Afzelius, members or collaborators in the only issue of the journal included Lars Herman Gyllenhaal
Lars Herman Gyllenhaal
Baron Lars Herman Gyllenhaal was a Swedish civil servant and politician.Gyllenhaal was "president," in the Göta Court of Appeals 1836-1855, Prime Minister for Justice 1243-1844. Again chief justice in the Göta court of appeal December 28, 1844 - April 3, 1855. Speaker in the Estate of the...
(later Swedish prime minister for justice), the geologist and mining engineer Jacob Henrik af Forselles, the palaeozoologist Johan Wilhelm Dalman
Johan Wilhelm Dalman
Johan Wilhelm Dalman was a Swedish physician and a naturalist. He first studied at Christianfeld in Schleswig-Holstein then at the University of Lund and the University of Uppsala. He was mainly interested in entomology and botany...
, the collector Gabriel Marklin, the physician Carl Stenhammar (later a professor at Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska institutet is a medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area, Sweden, and one of Europe's largest medical universities...
), and the later civil servant and amateur naturalist Baron Fredrik Anton Wrangel. Dalman, who was secretary of the society, had appreciated it as an unpretentious meeting place for informal discussions between students and teachers, but resented the pompuous character it acquired with the change of name and the magnificent celebration of the Linnaean anniversary in 1807, which he likened to a funeral service for the society.
The remaining protocols and other papers of the Society are kept in 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...
.