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Carl Linnaeus

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Carl Linnaeus, born in Sweden in 1707, brought order to the apparent chaos of nature. In his day plants and animals had long, inconsistent Latin names, and no one could be sure what another researcher was actually talking about. Linnaeus solved the problem with a strikingly simple idea. He introduced two-part (binomial) nomenclature: every species gets a two-part Latin name from genus and species, such as Homo sapiens for humans or Bellis perennis for the daisy. This system is so practical that it is still binding worldwide today. In his work "Systema Naturae" Linnaeus arranged the entire known realm of living things into a hierarchical system of classes, orders, genera and species. Linnaeus was a passionate collector and sent students, his "apostles", all over the world to bring back new species: several died on these journeys. He himself named thousands of plants and animals and confidently placed humankind, too, within his system. As the "father of modern taxonomy" he became hugely famous in his lifetime and was ennobled. He died in 1778 and even today the legacy of his sense of order stands behind every scientific species name.

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Which country was Carl Linnaeus from?

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Sweden

Born in 1707.

💡 Did you know? The Swede Linnaeus organised all of living nature (plants, animals and minerals) into a single system.

Which naming system did Linnaeus introduce?

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binomial nomenclature

Genus + species, e.g. Homo sapiens.

💡 Did you know? Linnaeus's two-part names (genus + species) are still the global standard for every animal and plant.

What is the scientific name of humans?

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Homo sapiens

Genus Homo, species sapiens.

💡 Did you know? „Homo sapiens“ („wise human“) is the scientific name Linnaeus coined for ourselves.

What is the title of Linnaeus's main work?

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Systema Naturae

A hierarchical system of living things.

💡 Did you know? In his „Systema Naturae“, Linnaeus catalogued thousands of species over successive editions.

Linnaeus is the father of which discipline?

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taxonomy

The science of classifying living things.

💡 Did you know? Linnaeus is regarded as the father of taxonomy: the science of naming and classifying living things.

Whom did Linnaeus send around the world?

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apostles (students)

They collected new species; several died en route.

💡 Did you know? Linnaeus sent his students, his „apostles“, around the world: several paid for the dangerous collecting trips with their lives.

Carl Linnaeus

Foto: Alexander Roslin · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Which scientist is shown here?

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Carl Linnaeus

Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish naturalist whose naming system founded the modern classification of living things.

💡 Did you know? He matter-of-factly classed humans among the animals and gave us the name „Homo sapiens“.

In which year was Carl Linnaeus born?

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1707

Born: 23 May 1707 in Råshult, Sweden

In which year did Carl Linnaeus die?

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1778

Died: 10 January 1778 in Uppsala, aged 70

Where was Carl Linnaeus born?

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Råshult, Sweden

Born: 23 May 1707 in Råshult, Sweden

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