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Carl Linnaeus the Younger
Carl Linnaeus the Younger
Carl Linnaeus the Younger
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Carl Linnaeus the Younger, Carolus Linnaeus the Younger, Carl von Linné den yngre (Swedish; abbreviated Carl von Linné d. y.), or Linnaeus filius (Latin for Linnaeus the son; abbreviated L.fil. (outdated) or L.f. (modern) as a botanical authority; 20 January 1741 – 1 November 1783) was a Swedish naturalist. His names distinguish him from his father, the pioneering taxonomist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778).[1]

Key Information

Biography

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Carl Linnaeus the Younger was enrolled at the University of Uppsala at the age of 9 and was taught science by his father's students, including Pehr Löfling, Daniel Solander, and Johan Peter Falk. In 1763, aged just 22, he succeeded his father as the head of Practical Medicine at Uppsala. His promotion to professor — without taking exams or defending a thesis — caused resentment among his colleagues.[2]

His work was modest in comparison to that of his father. His best-known work is the Supplementum Plantarum systematis vegetabilium of 1781, which contains botanical descriptions by the elder Linnaeus and his colleagues, edited and with additions by the son.[1][2]

He took a two-year trip to England, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark between 1781 and 1783. In London he became ill with jaundice and, shortly after his return, he suffered from fever and a stroke from which he died aged 42.[1] Together with his parents, Carl Linnaeus the Younger was buried in the family grave of Uppsala Cathedral.[3]

While still alive, Carl Linnaeus the Younger had inherited his father's extensive scientific collections of books, specimens, and correspondence, and he had worked to preserve them. In October 1784 his mother, Sara Elisabeth (1716–1806), sold the library and herbarium to the English botanist Sir James Edward Smith (1759–1828). After his death his widow, Pleasance Smith (1773–1877), sold the collection to the Linnean Society of London.[4][5][6]

The standard author abbreviation L.f. is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[7]

References

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Carl Linnaeus the Younger

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Carl Linnaeus the Younger (1741–1783), also known as Carl von Linné filius or Linnaeus filius, was a Swedish naturalist, , and physician best remembered as the son and academic successor of the pioneering taxonomist (1707–1778). Born on 20 January 1741 in , , to and his wife Sara Elisabeth Moraea, he was educated at under his father's direct guidance, specializing in and from a young age. Appointed as his father's substitute demonstrator in at age 22 in 1763, he fully succeeded him as professor of and at in 1778 following the elder Linnaeus's death, thereby inheriting and curating his father's vast collections of specimens, manuscripts, and correspondence. Linnaeus the Younger's career focused on advancing his father's binomial nomenclature system and systematic classification of plants and animals, though his independent contributions were more modest due to his short life and the shadow of his father's legacy. He collaborated closely with his father after the latter's debilitating stroke in 1774, assisting in organizing botanical research using innovative paper slip methods for cataloging species descriptions. His most notable publication, Supplementum plantarum (1781), expanded on his father's and by describing over 700 new plant species, many based on his father's unfinished notes, and it remains a key work in with Linnaeus filius recognized as the authorial abbreviation "L.f." for taxonomic citations. In 1781, seeking to broaden his expertise and connect with international scholars, he embarked on a significant European tour, sailing from Göteborg to where he spent over a year studying major collections at sites like , the , and Painshill Park; during this time, he documented British , , and horticulture, corresponded with figures like , and witnessed the death of . He continued to before returning to in early 1783, but fell ill—possibly from contracted during his travels—and died unmarried and childless on 1 November 1783 at age 42. Upon his death, Linnaeus the Younger's sold the family's scientific legacy—including over 14,000 specimens, 3,198 , thousands of books, and manuscripts—to English James Edward Smith for 1,000 guineas in 1784, preventing its dispersal and enabling the founding of the in 1788 as a dedicated institution for its preservation. This act ensured the enduring accessibility of the Linnaean collections, which continue to influence today, while Carl Linnaeus the Younger's efforts in maintaining and modestly extending his father's system underscore his role as a vital, if overshadowed, link in the history of biological .

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Carl Linnaeus the Younger was born on 20 January 1741 in , , to the renowned Swedish and physician (1707–1778) and his wife (1716–1806), the daughter of the wealthy town physician Johannes Moraeus. As the first child of the marriage, which had taken place in 1739, he entered a family poised for prominence in the scientific world, with his father already gaining international recognition for developing the system in . The couple would go on to have seven children in total, though only five—Carl the Younger and his four sisters—reached adulthood, positioning him as the sole surviving son and natural successor to his father's intellectual and professional legacy in . His sisters included Elisabeth Christina (1743–1782), Lovisa (1749–1839), Sara Christina (1751–1835), and Sophia (1757–1830), while the two siblings who did not survive infancy were Sara Magdalena (1744–1744) and (1754–1757). Following his father's appointment as of and at in May 1741, the family relocated to shortly after the birth, where their home became a dynamic center for scientific inquiry. The Linnaeus household in served as an academic hub, accommodating private lectures, collections of plant specimens, and visits from international scholars and dignitaries, providing young Carl with immediate immersion in botanical studies and the vibrant exchange of knowledge from an early age.

Childhood and Initial Education

Carl Linnaeus the Younger, born on 20 January 1741 in , , spent his early years immersed in the intellectual and natural world shaped by his family. As the eldest surviving son of the renowned botanist and his wife Sara Elisabeth Moraea, he grew up primarily in after the family's relocation there shortly after his birth. His mother played a key role in household management, cultivating a family garden that fostered an early appreciation for plants and among the children. This environment, combined with his father's extensive collections of specimens, provided hands-on opportunities for the young Carl to explore and from an early age. His initial education began at home under his father's gentle guidance, differing markedly from the harsher tutoring the elder Linnaeus had experienced in his own youth. He later attended provincial grammar schools emphasizing Aristotelian principles, where he supplemented his formal studies with self-directed learning in using available texts like those of . Due to his family's prominent connections at , where his father held the chair in and , the younger Linnaeus enrolled there at an unusually early age, beginning his studies around 1750. He received instruction from several of his father's distinguished students, including Pehr Löfling, who resided in the Linnaeus household as his tutor before departing on an expedition to in 1751, and , who also tutored him while lodging with the family and later gained fame for accompanying on his voyages. These mentors introduced him to advanced concepts in , , and his father's system, laying a foundational understanding of systematic classification. Despite these influences, the young Linnaeus displayed a mix of dedication and reticence in his pursuits. Described as hardworking yet timid and indecisive, he showed a preference for social activities over intense scientific rigor, occasionally prioritizing visits to "beautiful women" and . Nonetheless, by age 18 in 1759, he was appointed demonstrator in Uppsala's botanic garden, where he honed skills in plant identification and care through practical work with approximately 600 domestic species. This early phase marked the development of his expertise in and , though his father later noted a perceived lack of deep personal passion for the subject. His development reflected the privileges of familial legacy, preparing him for a in academia while highlighting his shy demeanor amid a demanding scholarly environment.

Academic Career

Appointment to Professorship

In 1763, at the age of 22, Carl Linnaeus the Younger was appointed to the professorship of Practical Medicine at , a position that integrated botanical knowledge with medical practice and healing. This chair had been held by his father, , since 1741, and the elder Linnaeus actively lobbied for his son's succession years in advance to ensure the preservation of the university's collections under familial control. The appointment occurred without the younger Linnaeus undergoing standard academic examinations or defending a , relying instead on his father's established prestige and contributions to the field. The rapid elevation sparked significant resentment among peers and students at , who viewed it as an act of that bypassed merit-based processes. Despite his father's enduring influence, which allowed him to assume the role while the elder continued overseeing duties until his death in 1778, Linnaeus the Younger faced immediate professional pressures, including the expectation to uphold his father's legacy in a competitive academic environment. Upon taking the position, Linnaeus the Younger inherited substantial administrative responsibilities, such as maintaining the university's botanic garden and natural history specimens, which quickly proved challenging due to issues like mold, pests, and limited expertise. He began as a demonstrator in 1759, guiding visitors through the gardens, but the full professorship amplified these duties, requiring him to balance teaching in medicine and botany amid ongoing scrutiny from the academic community.

Teaching and Medical Practice

Upon succeeding his father in 1778 as professor of medicine with responsibility for at , Carl Linnaeus the Younger assumed primary teaching duties in , , and practical medicine. His lectures emphasized the integration of into clinical education, drawing on systematic classification to illustrate therapeutic applications of , much like his father's approach but adapted to contemporary medical discourse. Surviving manuscripts from his tenure, preserved in the Linnean Society's collections, include notes on botanical lectures and medical systems such as morborum, demonstrating his focus on linking empirical observation with practical diagnostics. Although his appointment provoked resentment among senior faculty who viewed it as , Linnaeus the Younger delivered public and private courses effectively during his brief five-year professorship. As head of practical medicine—a role he had informally filled since 1763 without a formal degree—Linnaeus the Younger maintained a clinical practice at Uppsala, treating university students and local residents with remedies rooted in botanical pharmacopeia. He prioritized herbal treatments aligned with his father's Materia Medica, advocating for plant-based interventions in everyday ailments, which reinforced the Linnaean tradition of using natural history for healthcare. This hands-on approach not only served the community but also served as a teaching tool, allowing him to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy directly to pupils. Linnaeus the Younger oversaw the university's botanical gardens and herbaria, ensuring their maintenance and expansion as essential resources for instruction and research. He trained apprentices and students in systematic plant classification, fostering a of botanists through guided excursions and work that emphasized precise and ecological observation. His institutional efforts preserved the Linnaean legacy amid challenges, including limited resources and faculty opposition. Remaining unmarried throughout his life, Linnaeus the Younger devoted himself singularly to his academic and scientific pursuits, maintaining a focused routine with minimal engagement in Uppsala's social circles. This dedication, though sometimes misinterpreted as aloofness, enabled him to prioritize his professorial responsibilities and the stewardship of his father's collections until his untimely death in 1783.

Scientific Contributions

Botanical Research and Assistance to Father

Carl Linnaeus the Younger began contributing to botanical research in his late teens, serving as a demonstrator in the from around 1759, where he conducted studies on Swedish flora and cataloged horticultural plants using his father's system. These early independent efforts focused on local , including cataloging horticultural plants with both Swedish common names and Latin binomials, such as Spinacia oleracea for spinach and Foeniculum vulgare for fennel. His work emphasized practical classification, aligning with the familial emphasis on systematic organization of specimens. From the early 1760s, Linnaeus the Younger increasingly assisted his father in major taxonomic projects, including updating classifications and organizing data for foundational botanical texts. His handwriting appears on his father's preparatory notes from this period, indicating direct involvement in these efforts, which expanded the scope of plant genera descriptions and species arrangements. He also participated in cataloging specimens, employing paper slips to record and index new botanical material, a method that facilitated efficient revisions and cross-referencing with the family herbarium. This collaboration helped maintain the integrity of the herbarium, which contained over 14,000 specimens central to his father's taxonomic framework. He also contributed to cataloging insects in the family collection, supporting the broader systematic classification of natural history. Amid his father's declining health, particularly after the 1774 , Linnaeus the Younger assumed greater responsibilities in botanical endeavors, working closely to catalog additional plant species and refine ongoing classifications. He corrected and expanded paper slips copied by assistants, ensuring continuity in his father's later works while pursuing his own medical career at . This period marked his transition toward greater independence, though still deeply intertwined with familial botanical pursuits up to 1778.

Key Publications

Carl Linnaeus the Younger's principal contribution to botanical literature was Supplementum Plantarum systematis vegetabilium, published in 1781 as a major expansion to his father's foundational Systema Vegetabilium. This comprehensive 502-page volume incorporated descriptions of approximately 700 new , drawing on extensive unpublished materials to update and extend the Linnaean framework. The editorial process involved meticulous compilation from Carl Linnaeus the Elder's unpublished notes and paper slips dating from 1767 to 1773, which the son organized, corrected, and supplemented with observations from global correspondents such as José Celestino Mutis and Anders Sparrman; this effort specifically targeted gaps in the coverage of international that had emerged since the original works. In terms of taxonomic impact, the Supplementum introduced numerous new genera—such as reassignments like Gladiolus crispus from Ixia undulata—and refined existing classifications through detailed synonymy and morphological analyses, with attributions to the younger Linnaeus denoted by the standard abbreviation "L.f." (for filius). These additions enhanced the precision and breadth of the Linnaean system, facilitating further advancements in systematic . Beyond this seminal work, Carl Linnaeus the Younger contributed minor publications, including articles and pamphlets documenting Swedish native plants, which helped fill documentation gaps in regional during his tenure at .

Later Life

European Travels

In 1781, Carl Linnaeus the Younger embarked on a two-year tour of , departing from via Göteborg in and arriving in shortly thereafter, driven by professional ambitions to promote his recent publication Supplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium (Brunswick, 1781), which described 93 new genera and 1,303 species, including contributions from Carl Peter Thunberg's explorations. The journey was also motivated by financial pressures stemming from the management of his father's extensive botanical legacy, prompting him to seek international recognition for his work and explore potential buyers for the family collections amid mounting economic strain. Leveraging his father's renowned international network of naturalists, he aimed to exchange specimens and deepen his botanical knowledge through access to major European herbaria. His itinerary began in England, where he spent over a year based in from May 1781 until autumn 1782, visiting key sites such as , the , and Painshill Park to study horticulture and zoological collections. In autumn 1782, he traveled to , arriving in by mid-November and consulting royal cabinets and botanical gardens, including a cordial reception from , who facilitated access to the Jardin du Roi and arranged meetings with nobility like the Duke d'Enghien and Duke de Noailles; King even gifted him a collection of . He exchanged specimens with Antoine Gouan in Paris and acquired duplicates from , including items from Philibert Commerson's voyages. In early 1783, he proceeded to the , interacting with Nicolaas Laurens Burman and Martin Houttuyn in to examine their herbaria, before returning northward via —stopping in and —and , where he met and Johann Giesecke in . Throughout the tour, Linnaeus the Younger focused on enriching his own with exotic specimens, particularly from the , while gauging interest in acquiring his father's renowned collections, though overtures to figures like Banks did not yield immediate sales. Key encounters included regular visits to Banks's residence, where he discussed with Jonas Dryander and Pierre Broussonet, and a poignant moment witnessing Daniel Solander's fatal cerebral hemorrhage in May 1782. The journey concluded in early 1783, with a brief stop in in before his return to in February, having amassed valuable materials but at significant personal cost. Challenges emerged early, particularly in , where fatigue and struck in 1781, sidelining him for nearly two months and complicating his studies of damp collections; these health strains persisted, exacerbated by the rigors of travel and emotional tolls like Solander's death. Despite these obstacles, the tour advanced his career by fostering connections that highlighted the enduring influence of Linnaean across .

Illness and Death

Upon returning to Uppsala in early 1783 after his extended European travels, Carl Linnaeus the Younger was already in a weakened state, having contracted an illness during his time abroad. The condition, characterized by and accompanied by fever, had begun in and persisted upon his arrival home, severely impacting his health. The illness progressed rapidly in the months following his return, culminating in his death from jaundice on 1 November 1783, at the age of 42. Linnaeus the Younger died that day in his family home in Uppsala, bringing a sudden end to his promising career. He was buried in the Linnaeus family grave at Uppsala Cathedral, alongside his father. In the immediate aftermath, his mother, Sara Elisabeth Moraea, as sole executrix of the estate, responded by offering the renowned Linnaean collections to Sir Joseph Banks for purchase, while the University of Uppsala observed a period of mourning for its esteemed professor of botany and medicine, with Carl Peter Thunberg appointed as his successor in 1784.

Legacy

Management of Father's Collections

Following the death of his father, , on 10 January 1778, Carl Linnaeus the Younger inherited the elder Linnaeus's extensive scientific collections, which included a comprising over 14,000 plant specimens, a of approximately 1,600 volumes, and a substantial of manuscripts, correspondence, and notes. These materials represented the culmination of his father's lifelong work in systematic and , amassed over decades through global exchanges and personal fieldwork. Linnaeus the Younger dedicated significant effort to the preservation and organization of these collections, cataloging specimens and documents while safeguarding them against loss or fragmentation. He maintained them primarily at the family estate in Hammarby, where his father had established a dedicated museum building, and at , ensuring their accessibility for scholarly use and preventing premature dispersal during a period of personal and familial strain. This stewardship extended to ongoing correspondence with his father's international network of botanists, which helped sustain the collections' relevance in the . Amid growing financial pressures on the estate, including accumulated debts from maintaining Hammarby and supporting the family's scholarly pursuits, Linnaeus the Younger sought to secure the collections' future through potential sales during his European travels in 1781. In that year, he negotiated with prominent figures such as , who made an offer for the materials, but rejected it, deeming it insufficient; no agreement was reached before his own death on 1 November 1783. After Linnaeus the Younger's passing without heirs, his mother, Sara Elisabeth Moraea, facilitated the posthumous sale of the collections in 1784 to the English botanist James Edward Smith for 1,000 guineas (equivalent to £1,050). This transaction provided crucial financial relief to alleviate the family's debts and ensured the materials' transfer to , where they became the foundational holdings of the newly established Linnean , preserving their integrity for future generations.

Recognition and Influence

Carl Linnaeus the Younger is acknowledged in botanical taxonomy through the standard author abbreviation "L.f." (for Linnaeus filius), which denotes his authority for species descriptions. According to the (IPNI), he published 1,216 validly named plant taxa, primarily in works such as Supplementum plantarum (1781), contributing significantly to the expansion and refinement of his father's system. These names remain in use today, underscoring his role in establishing a stable foundation for systematic . Following his father's death in 1778, Linnaeus the Younger worked to preserve and advance the Linnaean classification framework, particularly amid challenges to its dominance in European . His publications and correspondence helped sustain the system's influence into the 19th century, impacting explorers and naturalists like , whom he visited in during his 1781 scientific tour. This encounter facilitated exchanges that reinforced the Linnaean method's application in global plant exploration. He received formal recognition during his lifetime, including election as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1777, honoring his emerging contributions to . In modern times, his legacy is commemorated through the preservation of his manuscripts and notes at institutions like the , which highlight his role in bridging his father's era with subsequent developments in .

References

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  2. https://www.alvin-portal.org/alvin/attachment/document/alvin-record:215323/ATTACHMENT-0007.pdf
  3. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1409&context=gbn
  4. https://www.linnean.org/news/2014/12/18/18th-december-2014-carl-linnaeus-the-younger-in-london
  5. https://www.linnean.org/research-collections/linnaean-collections
  6. https://skbl.se/en/article/SaraLisavonLinne
  7. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/749692
  8. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674005655
  9. https://www.uu.se/en/news/2020/2020-06-04-social-graces-and-etiquette-vital-for-carl-linnaeus
  10. https://www2.calmview.co.uk/linnean/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=GB-110%2FLM%2FLF%2FMED%2F2%2F1%2F6
  11. https://www.linnean.org/news/2015/03/05/5th-march-2015-mystery-writing
  12. https://ca1-tls.edcdn.com/2015_27_Sept_Pulse.pdf
  13. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/supplementum-plantarum--systematis-vegetabilium-generum-plantarum-et-specierum-plantarum-1781/13132550/
  14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4837604/
  15. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/555
  16. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/The_life_of_Sir_Charles_Linnaeus_..._-_to_which_is_added%2C_a_copious_list_of_his_works%2C_and_a_biographical_sketch_of_the_life_of_his_son_%28IA_lifeofsircharles00stoe%29.pdf
  17. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10321
  18. https://www.huntbotanical.org/admin/uploads/06-hibd-huntia-16-1-pp61-74.pdf
  19. https://www.ikfoundation.org/itextilis/the-story-no-5-fieldwork-the-linnaean-way.html
  20. https://kulturpersoner.uppsalakyrkogardar.se/en/author/henrikz/page/11/
  21. https://www.linnean.org/research-collections/archives/papers-of-carl-linnaeus
  22. https://www.ipni.org/a/22405-1
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