Martín Sessé y Lacasta
Encyclopedia
Martín Sessé y Lacasta was a Spanish botanist, who relocated to New Spain
(now Mexico
) during the 18th century to study and classify the flora of the territory.
, and later New Spain. In 1785 he was named a commissioner of the Royal Botanical Garden
in New Spain. At the same time a botanical garden and a course of study on the flora of Mexico at the University of Mexico
(now UNAM
) were authorized. Sessé stopped practicing medicine in order to devote all his energies to botany.
, King of Spain
, authorized a major botanical expedition known as the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain
, that proposed by Sessé at a time when most of the flora and fauna of Mexico were unknown to European science. Sessé became the head of the expedition and of the botanical garden.
His preparation for the expedition began in 1787. It was extensive, and took some time. He visited Santo Domingo
, Puerto Rico
, and Cuba, where similar (though smaller) studies had already been undertaken, to collaborate and learn. In Cuba he collaborated in the search for a treatment of a parasitic illness that had been spreading rapidly.
Back in New Spain, he was joined by a group of Spanish botanists selected by Casimiro Gómez Ortega
, director of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
. These included Vicente Cervantes
, the first professor of botany in New Spain, who continued to live in the country until his death in 1829; José Longinos Martínez
, who organized the Gabinete de Historia Natural, the precursor of the Museum of Natural History; Juan Diego del Castillo
, pharmacist and botanist; and José Maldonado. Also among the botanists was José Mariano Mociño
, a native of New Spain. Juan Cerda was the official artist of the expedition, and the Mexican Atanasio Echeverría was also one of the artists. The genus Echeveria
was named for him.
Various companies of scientists were sent to such widely separated destinations as the Pacific coast of Canada, the Greater Antilles, Yucatán
, Nicaragua
, and San Francisco. Sessé and Mociño worked mostly in the central part of Mexico. The tasks of the expedition included collecting specimens and having paintings of living plants prepared in the field by accompanying artists. In 1793 Castillo died in Mexico, after he had written Plantas descritas en el viaje de Acapulco. The genus Castilla
was named for him by Vicente Cervantes. Although the works of these botanists ended in 1803, it was not until the 1880s that their work was published.
(about 7100 herbarium sheets with 200 genera and 3500 new species of plants).The great impact that the results of the expedition had on the botanical community has been documented by the botanical scholar Rogers McVaugh
, an expert on the Flora of Mexico.
The paintings remained in the possession of Mociño, who accompanied Sessé to Spain after the expedition, but they appeared lost after his death in 1820 in Barcelona
, where he settled after living in France
and Switzerland
during periods of political upheaval in Spain. They had become part of a private library, where they remained unrecognized of their significance until 1980. The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation purchased the set, comprising ca. 1800 botanical and ca. 200 zoological subjects, in 1981 from the Torner family. The paintings are now accessible for study at the Hunt Institute and are available on a CD.
The plant genera Sessea
, Sesseopsis, Mocinna, Mozinna, and Mocinnodaphne are named in honor of the expedition leaders.
and José Antonio Pavón
to Peru and Chile (1777–88); José Celestino Mutis
to New Granada
(1783–1808); Juan de Cuéllar
to the Philippines
(1786–97); and Sessé y Lacasta to New Spain (1787–1803). See also Jean-Louis Berlandier
.
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
(now Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) during the 18th century to study and classify the flora of the territory.
Background
Sessé studied medicine in Saragosa, then moved to Madrid in 1775. In 1779 he became a military physician, in which capacity he visited CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and later New Spain. In 1785 he was named a commissioner of the Royal Botanical Garden
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
The is an botanical garden located at , next to the Prado Museum in Madrid ....
in New Spain. At the same time a botanical garden and a course of study on the flora of Mexico at the University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(now UNAM
Unam
UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...
) were authorized. Sessé stopped practicing medicine in order to devote all his energies to botany.
The botanical expedition
In 1786 Charles III of SpainCharles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
, King of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, authorized a major botanical expedition known as the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain
Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain
The Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain was a scientific expedition that took place in the territories of New Spain between 1787 and 1803....
, that proposed by Sessé at a time when most of the flora and fauna of Mexico were unknown to European science. Sessé became the head of the expedition and of the botanical garden.
His preparation for the expedition began in 1787. It was extensive, and took some time. He visited Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and Cuba, where similar (though smaller) studies had already been undertaken, to collaborate and learn. In Cuba he collaborated in the search for a treatment of a parasitic illness that had been spreading rapidly.
Back in New Spain, he was joined by a group of Spanish botanists selected by Casimiro Gómez Ortega
Casimiro Gómez Ortega
Casimiro Gómez de Ortega was a Spanish physician, and botanist who was the First Professor of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid...
, director of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
The is an botanical garden located at , next to the Prado Museum in Madrid ....
. These included Vicente Cervantes
Vicente Cervantes
Vicente de Cervantes was a notable Spanish and Mexican physician and botanist.-Background:Don Vicente Cervantes was a contemporary of Martín Sessé y Lacasta and corresponded with Jean-Louis Berlandier, the French naturalist who botanized in Mexico and Texas as part of the Mexican Boundary...
, the first professor of botany in New Spain, who continued to live in the country until his death in 1829; José Longinos Martínez
José Longinos Martínez
José Longinos Martínez was a Spanish naturalist whose account of his travels through Baja California Sur, Baja California, and California in 1792 provided an important early account of the region, its fauna, flora, minerals, and native inhabitants....
, who organized the Gabinete de Historia Natural, the precursor of the Museum of Natural History; Juan Diego del Castillo
Juan Diego del Castillo
Juan Diego del Castillo was a Spanish pharmacist and botanist who joined Vicente Cervantes in Mexico. Castillo wrote Plantas descritas en el viaje de Acapulco. He died in Mexico. Castillo had been a contemporary of Martín Sessé y Lacasta...
, pharmacist and botanist; and José Maldonado. Also among the botanists was José Mariano Mociño
José Mariano Mociño
José Mariano Mociño Suárez Lozano , or simply José Mariano Mociño, was a naturalist from New Spain.After having studied philosophy and medicine, he conducted early research on the ecology , geology, and anthropology of his country and other parts of North America.- Biography :He was born in...
, a native of New Spain. Juan Cerda was the official artist of the expedition, and the Mexican Atanasio Echeverría was also one of the artists. The genus Echeveria
Echeveria
Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family, native from Mexico to northwestern South America. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy...
was named for him.
Various companies of scientists were sent to such widely separated destinations as the Pacific coast of Canada, the Greater Antilles, Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, and San Francisco. Sessé and Mociño worked mostly in the central part of Mexico. The tasks of the expedition included collecting specimens and having paintings of living plants prepared in the field by accompanying artists. In 1793 Castillo died in Mexico, after he had written Plantas descritas en el viaje de Acapulco. The genus Castilla
Castilla (plant)
Castilla is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego del Castillo Castilla (sometimes incorrectly spelled Castilloa) is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego...
was named for him by Vicente Cervantes. Although the works of these botanists ended in 1803, it was not until the 1880s that their work was published.
Afterwards
After the end of the expedition Sessé returned to Spain with his scientific collections to work on The Flora Mexicana, but he died in Madrid in 1808 before publishing it. The scientific collections are guarded by the Royal Botanical Garden of MadridReal Jardín Botánico de Madrid
The is an botanical garden located at , next to the Prado Museum in Madrid ....
(about 7100 herbarium sheets with 200 genera and 3500 new species of plants).The great impact that the results of the expedition had on the botanical community has been documented by the botanical scholar Rogers McVaugh
Rogers McVaugh
Rogers McVaugh was a research professor of botany and the UNC Herbarium's curator of Mexican plants. He was also Adjunct Research Scientist of the Hunt Institute in Carnegie Mellon University and a Professor Emeritus of botany in the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.-Biography:Born in New York...
, an expert on the Flora of Mexico.
The paintings remained in the possession of Mociño, who accompanied Sessé to Spain after the expedition, but they appeared lost after his death in 1820 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, where he settled after living in 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...
and Switzerland
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....
during periods of political upheaval in Spain. They had become part of a private library, where they remained unrecognized of their significance until 1980. The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation purchased the set, comprising ca. 1800 botanical and ca. 200 zoological subjects, in 1981 from the Torner family. The paintings are now accessible for study at the Hunt Institute and are available on a CD.
The plant genera Sessea
Sessea
Sessea is a genus of plant in family Solanaceae. It contains the following species :* Sessea sodiroi, Bitter...
, Sesseopsis, Mocinna, Mozinna, and Mocinnodaphne are named in honor of the expedition leaders.
Other expeditions
The four expeditions authorized by King Charles III to the Spanish colonies were those of Hipólito Ruiz LópezHipólito Ruiz López
Hipólito Ruiz López , or Hipólito Ruiz, was a Spanish botanist known for researching the floras of Peru and Chile during an expedition under Carlos III from 1777 to 1788...
and José Antonio Pavón
Ruiz y Pavón
-Ruiz et Pavón:Ruiz y Pavón Spanish form of the combination Ruiz et Pavón, as used as authority in plant species.-Joseph Pavón:Jose Antonio Pavón y Jimenez Spanish botanist, with Hipólito Ruiz López and the French specialist Dombey visited between 1779 and 1788 Chile, Peru and other South American...
to Peru and Chile (1777–88); José Celestino Mutis
José Celestino Mutis
-External links:*** at The Catholic Encyclopedia official site...
to New Granada
Viceroyalty of New Granada
The Viceroyalty of New Granada was the name given on 27 May 1717, to a Spanish colonial jurisdiction in northern South America, corresponding mainly to modern Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The territory corresponding to Panama was incorporated later in 1739...
(1783–1808); Juan de Cuéllar
Juan de Cuéllar
Juan José Ruperto de Cuéllar y Villanueba was a Spanish pharmacologist and botanist...
to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1786–97); and Sessé y Lacasta to New Spain (1787–1803). See also Jean-Louis Berlandier
Jean-Louis Berlandier
Jean-Louis Berlandier was a French naturalist, physician, and anthropologist.Berlandier was born in rural Fort de l'Écluse, near France's border with Switzerland, and trained as a botanist in Geneva...
.
Publications
- Sessé, M. y J.M. Mociño, "Flora Mexicana", in La Naturaleza (2nd series, 1891; 2nd ed., 1894).
- Plantae Novae Hispaniae (1889)
External links
- José Dionisio Larreátegui, Description Botanique du Chiranthodendron (1805) Expedición al Virreinato de Nueva España Martín Sessé y Lacasta at the Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa
- Sessé y Lacasta, Martín de & Mociño y Losada, José Mariano. Flora Mexicana, 1894 at the Biblioteca Digital del Real Jardín Botanico CSIC http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/spa/Libro.php?Libro=2923
- Sessé y Lacasta, Martín de & Mociño y Losada, José Mariano. Plantae Novae Hispaniae, 1893 at the Biblioteca Digital del Real Jardín Botanico CSIC http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/spa/Libro.php?Libro=2922