Daniel C. Solander (1733 - 1782) was a Linnaeus apostle who moved
from his homeland in Sweden to England, and circumnavigated the world as a
botanist with Captain James Cook. Solander was born February 19, 1733 in Piteå,
Gammelstad, Norrbotten, Sweden to his father, Vicar Carl Solander, and mother,
Magdalena Bostadia. As a boy he attended Piteå trivial school.
In July 1750, at the age of 17, Solander enrolled in Uppsala University, and boarded
with his wealthy uncle. He studied language and humanities for
two years, and then switched to natural history. Solander continued his
studies, and worked with Carl Linnaeus on several projects. Some were
botanical, such as making trips to Lapland to collect plants, and editing
papers and manuscripts. Other projects had to do with organizing and classifying
collections:
- Summer 1752 – Solander and Linnaeus helped organize Queen Lovisa Ulrika's Cabinet of Natural History at Drottningholm's Castle.
- Christmas 1752 – they organized Carl Gustav Tessin's Cabinet of Natural History in Stockholm.
- Summer 1753 – they classified and organized the collections at the Royal Castle at Ulriksdal.
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| Daniel C. Solander in later years – from a portrait by William Parry (public domain). |
This was a great training ground for implementing the
Linnaeus method of classification. These experiences may have also revealed
natural interests and abilities in Solander. During his
student years at University, Solander built a significant private library,
herbarium, and cabinet of natural history. Linnaeus saw great potential in
Solander. He promised Solander his daughter in marriage, and eventually his position at
Uppsala University. In 1789, Linnaeus arranged for Solander to travel to
England on scholarship to collect plant specimens and further his education.
Learn more:
- The IK Foundation – provides detailed information about natural and cultural history, including Carl Linnaeus and his apostles: http://www.ikfoundation.org/ifacts/danielsolander.php
- The Linnaean Society of London – provides a comprehensive online collection of information, correspondence, specimens, art, and documents: http://www.linnean-online.org/
- Linnaeus The Compleat Naturalist, by Wilfrid Blunt. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford (2004). Chapter 6, “The Apostles,” pages 193 – 194.
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