Commemoration of Carl Linnaeus

The Gold Medal of the Linnean Society

Commemoration of Carl Linnaeus has been ongoing for over two centuries.

By the end of his life in 1778, Linnaeus had become one of the most acclaimed scientists in Europe, the first civilian in Sweden to be dubbed a knight of the Order of the Polar Star and ennobled as Carl von Linné. The Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote during Linnaeus' lifetime: "I know no greater man on earth."

The German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe would later write: "With the exception of Shakespeare and Spinoza, I know no one among the no longer living who has influenced me more strongly." Swedish author August Strindberg wrote: "Linnaeus was in reality a poet who happened to become a naturalist". Among other compliments, Linnaeus has been called Princeps botanicorum (Prince of Botanists), "The Pliny of the North," and "The Second Adam".

Anniversaries of Linnaeus' birth, especially in centennial years, have been marked by major celebrations. In 1807, events were held in Sweden that included Linnaeus' daughters and apostles of Linnaeus, such as Adam Afzelius who was then head of the short-lived Linnéska institutet. A century later, celebrations of the bicentennial expanded globally and were even larger in Sweden. At Uppsala University, honorary doctorates were given to Ernst Haeckel, Francis Darwin and Selma Lagerlöf, among others. The memorials were so numerous that newspaper columnists began to tire of them and printed caricatures of the esteemed Linnaeus. In 1917, on the 210th anniversary of Linnaeus' birth, the Swedish Linnaeus Society was founded and proceeded to restore the Linnaean Garden, which had fallen into disrepair. In 2007, tricentennial celebrations were held. During that year a documentary titled Expedition Linnaeus was produced, which was intended to increase public understanding of and respect for nature.

The Linnean Society of London has awarded the Linnean Medal for excellence in botany or zoology since 1888. Starting in 1978, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the death of Linnaeus, the Bicentenary Medal of the Linnean Society has been awarded in recognition of work done by a biologist under the age of forty.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh holds a monument to Linnaeus. It was designed by the noted Scots architect Robert Adam in 1778. It was erected in 1779 by John Hope, Regius Keeper of the Garden. It originally stood in the Botanic Garden on Haddington Place. Hope was the first to introduce the Linnean system of classification to Scotland. There are numerous other memorials and statues of Linnaeus in countries around the world.

Linnaeus has appeared on numerous Swedish postage stamps and banknotes. In 1986, a new 100 kronor bill was introduced featuring a portrait of Linnaeus, drawings of pollinating plants from his Praeludia Sponsaliorum Plantarum, a sketch of the Linnaean Garden and a quote, often described as Linnaeus' motto, from Philosophia Botanica which reads "OMNIA MIRARI ETIAM TRITISSIMA": Find wonder in all things, even the most commonplace.

The Australian National University campus has a road named Linnaeus Way, which runs past several biology buildings. The Linnean Society of New South Wales awards a bursary to assist botany, zoology or geology students at the University of Sydney. Gustavus Adolphus College began its eponymous Linnaeus Arboretum in 1973. Following approval by the Parliament of Sweden, Växjö University and Kalmar College merged on 1 January 2010; the resulting institution was named Linnaeus University in his honor.

Other things named after Linnaeus include: the twinflower genus Linnaea, the tachina fly genus Linnaemya, the nightshade species Solanum linnaeanum, the marimo-forming green algae species Aegagropila linnaei, a peony cultivar, asteroid 7412 Linnaeus, the lunar crater Linné and the cobalt sulfide mineral Linnaeite.

In 1959, Carl Linnaeus was designated as the lectotype for Homo sapiens, which means that following the nomenclatural rules, Homo sapiens was validly defined as the animal species to which Linnaeus belonged.

Gallery

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  Monument to Linnaeus at his birthplace in Råshult
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  Spex (theatre) performance of Linné in Lund, 2001
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  The twinflower, Linnaea borealis, was a personal emblem for Linnaeus
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  "Carolus Linnaeus, Knight of the Polar Star" from Thornton's Temple of Flora (1799-1807)
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  Epitaph in Uppsala Cathedral
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  Early 19th century obelisk commemorating four naturalists: Linnaeus, Roth, von Haller and von Jacquin
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  Celebration in Råshult, 1907
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  Solanum linnaeanum
• The Linné crater on the moon
  The Linné crater on the moon
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  Statue of Linnaeus in the Royal Academy of London
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  Linnaeus Way at Australian National University in Canberra
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  Linnaeus on a 1957 postage stamp from the Soviet Union
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  Mosaic portrait of Linnaeus made from apples in Kivik, 2007
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  Double-flowered peony cultivar 'Linné'
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  Aegagropila linnaei in marimo form
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  Linnaeite samples and polished section
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  Tachina fly (tentatively identified as a Linnaemya species)

External links

• Scientists and Mathematicians on Money: Linnaeus is featured on the 100 Swedish Krona banknote
• Stained glass depiction of Linnaeus at the All Saints' Chapel in Sewanee: The University of the South
• A mid-19th century marble statue of The Young Linnaeus held by the Walker Art Gallery
• Woodward Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma has a section called the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens which features a large bronze statue of Linnaeus: [1] [2] [3]