Louis-Ovide Brunet
Encyclopedia
Louis-Ovide Brunet was a French-Canadian botanist
and Roman Catholic priest
, and is considered one of the founding fathers of Canadian
botany.
Brunet was born in Quebec City
on 10 March 1826, the son of Jean-Olivier Brunet, a merchant, and Cécile Lagueux. From 1844, he was educated at the Séminaire de Québec, and was ordained on 10 October 1848. He was for the next ten years employed variously as a missionary
, a curate
, and parish
priest. Upon the departure of his former mentor, the Abbé Edward John Horan
, he was in 1858 appointed teacher of science at his alma mater, which had become Université Laval
in 1852 following a grant of a Royal Charter
by Queen Victoria
. Following the resignation of mineralogist
Thomas Sterry Hunt
, Brunet succeeded him as the Chair of Natural History
. His expertise as a botanist developed following field work in Ontario
and Quebec
, as well as two years spent in visiting European herbaria
and a course of lectures at the Sorbonne
, the Jardin des Plantes
, and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
in Paris, France
. He corresponded with noted American
botanist Asa Gray
who encouraged him to undertake a survey of Canadian flora. This work, commenced in 1860 and encompassing more than 582 pages, was never published, partly as the result of its anticipation in 1862 upon the publication of Flore canadienne by his competitor Léon Provancher. In 1870 he published his first major botanical work, Éléments de botanique et de physiologie végétale, suivis d’une petite flore simple et facile pour aider à découvrir les noms des plantes les plus communes au Canada. Nevertheless, success eluded him, and with his health failing, he retired at age 44 to the home of his mother and sister. He died in Quebec City on 2 October 1876.
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and Roman Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, and is considered one of the founding fathers of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
botany.
Brunet was born in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
on 10 March 1826, the son of Jean-Olivier Brunet, a merchant, and Cécile Lagueux. From 1844, he was educated at the Séminaire de Québec, and was ordained on 10 October 1848. He was for the next ten years employed variously as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
, and parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
priest. Upon the departure of his former mentor, the Abbé Edward John Horan
Edward John Horan
Edward John Horan was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and Bishop of Kingston from 1858 to 1875.-References:...
, he was in 1858 appointed teacher of science at his alma mater, which had become Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1852 following a grant of a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Following the resignation of mineralogist
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
Thomas Sterry Hunt
Thomas Sterry Hunt
Thomas Sterry Hunt , American geologist and chemist, was born at Norwich, Connecticut.He lost his father when twelve years old, and had to earn his own livelihood. In the course of two years he found employment in a printing office, in an apothecary shop, in a book store and as a clerk...
, Brunet succeeded him as the Chair of Natural History
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...
. His expertise as a botanist developed following field work in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, as well as two years spent in visiting European herbaria
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
and a course of lectures at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, the Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
, and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
in Paris, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He corresponded with noted American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist Asa Gray
Asa Gray
-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
who encouraged him to undertake a survey of Canadian flora. This work, commenced in 1860 and encompassing more than 582 pages, was never published, partly as the result of its anticipation in 1862 upon the publication of Flore canadienne by his competitor Léon Provancher. In 1870 he published his first major botanical work, Éléments de botanique et de physiologie végétale, suivis d’une petite flore simple et facile pour aider à découvrir les noms des plantes les plus communes au Canada. Nevertheless, success eluded him, and with his health failing, he retired at age 44 to the home of his mother and sister. He died in Quebec City on 2 October 1876.