Celestino Fernández-Villar facts for kids

Celestino Fernández-Villar (April 2, 1838 – April 29, 1907) was a Spanish friar and botanist. He was a member of the Augustinian religious order. He is most famous for his important work on the plants of the Philippines. He helped to create a detailed book about the country's plant life.

His Life Story

Celestino Fernández-Villar was born in Asturias, Spain, on April 2, 1838. He studied to become a priest in a seminary in Oviedo. In 1855, he began his training to become an Augustinian friar in Valladolid.

From 1859 to 1877, he worked at a church in Cebu City, Philippines. This church was connected to the Basilica del Santo Niño. In 1877, he moved to Manila. There, he took charge of updating a very important book called Flora de Filipinas. This book was about all the different plants found in the Philippines. He worked on it until 1883.

After this, he served as a parish priest in Miagao until 1885. He then traveled for church duties to places like Rome, China, and Australia. From 1893 to 1897, he was a pastor in the Philippine town of Alimodian.

During the Philippine Revolution, he was taken prisoner. On October 31, 1898, he was injured but survived. He managed to find safety in Iloilo. Later, he retired to Manila, where he passed away on April 29, 1907.

Special Awards

Celestino Fernández-Villar was recognized for his excellent work in studying plants. He was made a special member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences. In Spanish, this important group is called Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales.

His Contributions

He is known for identifying and naming at least 175 different types of plants. These plant groups are called taxa. His work helped scientists better understand the plant life of the Philippines.

See also

In Spanish: Celestino Fernández-Villar para niños