LINNAEUS, CAROLE'S The :wner ally used Latin name of Karl von Linn(.. the great Swedish naturalist. who is chiefly thought of as the originator of the modern nomenelatorial methods as applied to plants and animals, but is to he regarded in a broader sense as the fore runner of the modern stvstetnatists.
lie was born in MishitIt. in the Province of Similand. Sweden. in May (old style). 171)7. His father, Nils Linn.% was at that time a Lutheran vicar. who in 1709 became pastor. His mother was Christina Broderson, daughter of the pre vious incumbent in the pastorate. The antece dents of Linnaeus thus account for the desire which prompted and directed the efforts of his parents. in spite of their narrow circumstances. to give him the proper education for the ministry. Never theless, it would seem that Nils Linn(' uncon sciously gave a trend to the young mind of his first-born which may account for the direction which it afterwards took in the man: for the pastor was an intelligent gardener. partly for the love of it and partly from necessity, and Lin nirus wrote of his father: "Ile was an uncommon lover of rarities, and had a select garden of uncommon plants." When the future naturalist was four years of age. it appears that. in spite of his tender years, he was unusually inquisitive in regard to plants. When he reached the age of eight. he was as signed a garden spot of his own, and showed much energy in implanting all inanner of wild growths. Certainly within these early childish years Linn :pus bad begun his course as a natural ist; ; for his love of collecting and habits of obser vation did in his ease what they have in many another—they absorbed his real interest. while his regular tasks were performed more or less perfunctorily. It was fortunate for the boy's peace of mind that his first schoolmaster. Lame rills, in the school at Wexiii. to which he was sent in 1717, liiniself fond of botany, and encouraged the boy in his botanizing. After seven years of the gymnasium he passed into the college in the same town, but his academic be havior so ill satisfied his father that lie become disturbed for the young man's future. Though
Linmeus expressed his willingness to conform to his father's wishes and enter the ministry. he pleaded that he should be allowed to follow hi= own inclination. The father, however. urged by others who regarded Linna-us unfavorably. de termined to apprentiee him to a tradesman. From this fate. lumever, he was rescued through the intercession of a physivian of the town of Wexiii, :•m, recognizing Linmeu-'s in dustry and ability, directed his studies in phys iology and supplied him with book, mi botany and iedWine. Rothmann, in whose house he was at that time living with father's consent. had the rare experience of bringing a young hi< and this eirennistance il Illstrates most strikingly the wisdom of direct ing the young mind into its natural channels. After being with Rothniann. Linmens went (1727) to laud, where he furthered his studies under DE. Kolhal Stobwus for a year. after which he went. on Rothmann's advice. to where the renowned Iti011swk was teaching. seems to have been offended at this. since he was not consulted in regard to the change. The young man arrived at Up-alit with little money, and no prospect of self-support. which was the first consideration. While in this state of un certainty lie was one day examining plants in the garden of the university. when Dr. ('elsius. a physician and botanist. met him. and shortly afterwards engaged him as an assistant in com piling a treatise on the plants of the Bible llicrobotanicon), giving him a home in return. and by recommendations enabling him to get op portunities to give private instruction. While with Celsius he became interested in Vaillant's Serino dc St•octura Fiorillo (Leyden. 171s) and in Wallin's Uilinos Phyton (Criala. 1759). the study of which led him to the writing of an essay on the sexes in plants. 'chi, essay served to recommend him to Budbeck. to whom he was favorably introduced by Celsius. This introduc tion led to his appointment as Rudbeek's ad junetus. at the same One being appointed to direct the garden in which he would gladly have become a gardener the year previous.