Pierre Antoine Delalande
Encyclopedia
Pierre Antoine Delalande (March 27, 1787 – June 27, 1823) was a French
naturalist
and explorer.
Delalande was employed by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
to collect natural history specimens. He travelled to Brazil
in 1816 to collect specimens for the museum.
In 1818 he began an expedition to South Africa
with his nephew Jules Verreaux
, who was around 12 years old at the time, to collect specimens. Delalande and Verreaux travelled and collected in South Africa for three years. On their return in 1821, they took back an astounding 13,405 specimens, mostly plant material. Their collection included 288 mammals, 2205 birds, 322 reptiles, 265 fish, 3875 shellfish, and various human skulls and skeletons from a Cape Town
cemetery and from the 22 April 1819 Battle of Grahamstown
between the British forces under Colonel Willshire and the Xhosa under Nxele.
He is honoured in the butterfly name Papilio delalandei
.
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...
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...
and explorer.
Delalande was employed by 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...
to collect natural history specimens. He travelled to 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...
in 1816 to collect specimens for the museum.
In 1818 he began an expedition to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with his nephew Jules Verreaux
Jules Verreaux
Jules Pierre Verreaux was a French botanist, ornithologist and professional collector of, and trader in, natural history specimens...
, who was around 12 years old at the time, to collect specimens. Delalande and Verreaux travelled and collected in South Africa for three years. On their return in 1821, they took back an astounding 13,405 specimens, mostly plant material. Their collection included 288 mammals, 2205 birds, 322 reptiles, 265 fish, 3875 shellfish, and various human skulls and skeletons from a Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
cemetery and from the 22 April 1819 Battle of Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
between the British forces under Colonel Willshire and the Xhosa under Nxele.
He is honoured in the butterfly name Papilio delalandei
Papilio delalandei
Papilio delalandei is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar.. The name honours Pierre Antoine Delalande.-External links:*...
.