Expeditions of Pehr Kalm

Pehr Kalm spent two and a half years in North America. Most of his time was spent in Philadelphia, and the nearby Swedish settlement of Raccoon, New Jersey (now Swedesboro). He explored the surrounding country side collecting plants and seeds to send to Linnaeus, and researching their uses and environment. He often took short trips in the area to expand his range, visiting new friends and colleagues. Later he took an extended trip up to French Canada. Most of his travel was by boat, following the many rivers and lakes in eastern North America.



Journey of Pehr Kalm - North America

North America

Timeline of Kalm’s travels in North America:

·         Philadelphia (1748-1749) – during the winter, Kalm spent time in Raccoon, where he also served as a lay minister for a Swedish church, whose rector, Johan Sandin, had died.

·         New York, United States (1748, 1749) – Kalm reports on trees and their uses, and on agriculture.

·         Pennsylvania, United States (1748, 1750)

·         Quebec, Canada (1749)

·         Montreal, Canada (1749)

·         Albany, United States (1749)

·         Niagara Falls, United States (1750) – Kalm writes a description of Niagara Falls.

North America to Sweden

Before leaving North America, Kalm married Anna, Johan Sandin’s widow. The Kalm’s left the continent via Philadelphia on February 13, 1751, and arrived in England in late April. After stays in London and Gothenburg, Sweden, they arrived in Stockholm, Sweden on June 3, 1751. Kalm took a Professorship in Economy at Åbo Academy, the Swedish university in Norway. There he established a botanical garden, published accounts of his travels, and taught until he died in 1771. He also became a minister. In Species Plantarum, Carl Linnaeus credits Kalm for 90 species (60 of them new, including his namesake, Kalmia).

Learn more:

• Summary of Pehr Kalm's life (though date of birth and place varies); also download the PDF version of his “Travels into North America” – volumes 1 and 2: http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-117a/summary/index.asp
• Pehr Kalm at Trinity church in Raccoon Creek Swedesboro, New Jersey: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM47GR_Peter_Kalm_Trinity_Church_Swedesboro_New_Jersey_USA
• Pehr Kalm's travel articles, taken from his journal entries (see pages 398-400 for a list of plants in binomial form): http://international.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?intldl/ascfr:@field(DOCID+@lit(gcfrpi013_0384))