Georg Joseph Kamel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georg Joseph Kamel
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| Born | 12 April 1661 Brno, Moravia
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| Died | 2 May 1706 (aged 45) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany, zoology, natural history |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | KAMEL |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | KAMEL |
Georg Joseph Kamel (born April 12, 1661 – died May 2, 1706) was a Jesuit missionary, pharmacist, and naturalist. He is famous for being the first to fully describe the plants and animals of the Philippines. He also helped introduce the amazing nature of the Philippines to scientists in Europe.
Many of Kamel's writings were published in a science journal called Philosophical Transactions. His descriptions of Philippine plants were also added to a large book about plants by John Ray, called Historia Plantarum.
Contents
Life of Georg Joseph Kamel
Early Years and Training
Georg Joseph Kamel was born on April 12, 1661, in Brno, which is now part of the Czech Republic. His name suggests he might have been of German background. In November 1682, he joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He became a lay brother, which means he was a member of the order but not a priest.
In 1685, he worked as an assistant and pharmacist at the Holy Trinity College in Neuhaus. Records from that time show that Kamel knew German, Czech, and some Latin. In 1686, he moved to the Jesuit college in Krummau and continued his work as a pharmacist. His old pharmacy there has been carefully restored and can still be seen today in the Museum of Český Krumlov. During this time, Kamel asked to be sent on a mission overseas, and his wish was granted.
Journey to the Philippines
In 1687, Kamel set off for the Philippines with other missionaries. He started his journey from Cádiz, Spain, on July 9, 1687. First, he sailed to Vera Cruz in New Spain (which is now Mexico). From there, he traveled by land to Acapulco. Then, he boarded a large ship called a galleon and arrived in Manila, Philippines, sometime in 1688.
In Manila, he was assigned to the local Jesuit college, Colegio de Manila. He set up the college's pharmacy there. He also offered free medical care to poor people in the city. Kamel created a special botanical garden at the college. This garden became well-known for its collection of rare and medicinal plants. In 1696, Kamel made his final promises to the Jesuit order at a church in Manila.
Kamel's Impact and Connections
Thanks to Kamel's hard work, the Jesuit College in Manila became very famous in the Philippines. Important people often sought his medical help. He also followed the Christian idea of charity by giving free medicines to the poor and to the local people.
Kamel's reputation grew beyond the Philippines. He started writing letters to scientists in Europe and Asia. He shared information and plant or animal samples with them. Some of his important contacts included Willem ten Rhijne, a Dutch botanist in Jakarta, and two English surgeons, Samuel Browne and Edward Bulkley. He also corresponded with two members of the Royal Society in London: the pharmacist James Petiver and the naturalist John Ray.
Georg Joseph Kamel passed away at the age of 45.
Kamel's Scientific Discoveries
Kamel drew, described, and wrote about many different parts of nature in the Philippines. He studied plants, animals, minerals, insects, shells, and even snakes. His first known writings were published in 1699.
His first set of writings was unfortunately lost to pirates. However, he successfully sent his other accounts to London. There, his friends Ray and Petiver helped publish them. Kamel's descriptions of Philippine herbs, shrubs, and trees were published as a 96-page addition to John Ray's third book of Historia Plantarum in 1704. The rest of his works appeared in the Philosophical Transactions.
Kamel was the first to introduce Europe to animals like the tarsier and the colugo. He also described the St Ignatius bean, which is a medicinal plant.
Most of Kamel's notes that still exist are kept in the British Library in London. Some volumes are also at the Natural History Museum, London and the Maurits Sabbe Library in Leuven, Belgium. Copies of parts of his work can be found in his hometown of Brno, Czech Republic.
Key Published Works
Here are some of Kamel's important works:
- Plants of Luzon Island: This detailed book about plants from Luzon and other Philippine islands was added to John Ray's Historia Plantarum in 1704.
- On True Amomum (Gingeraceae): This was a description and drawing of a plant called True Amomum, published in 1699.
- On Bean of St. Ignatius (Strychnine): He wrote about the uses of the St. Ignatius bean in 1699. He also sent a more detailed account of it to John Ray and James Petiver.
- On Some Philippine Animals: In 1702, he sent descriptions of animals from the Philippines to James Petiver.
- On Philippine Birds: His observations on birds from the Philippines were published in 1702.
- On Philippine Corals and Marine Animals: He described corals and other sea creatures from the Philippines in 1702.
- Philippine Plants (Parts 1-4): He wrote several parts about climbing plants from the Philippines, published in 1704.
- Philippine Fishes, Molluscs, and Crustaceans: Descriptions of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans from the Philippines were published in 1704.
- On Four-legged Animals of the Philippines: This work from 1706 included the first known picture of a tarsier or flying lemur.
- Philippine Monsters and Snakes: He also wrote about unusual creatures and snakes from the Philippines in 1706.
- Philippine Shells, Minerals, and Fossils: Descriptions of shells, minerals, and fossils from the Philippines were published in 1706.
- Philippine Animals: More general descriptions of various Philippine animals were published in 1708.
- Philippine Spiders and Beetles: His notes on spiders and beetles from the Philippines were published in 1711.
Plants Named After Kamel
Even though he is often forgotten in the Philippines, several plants have been named in Kamel's honor.
The famous Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus named the beautiful flowering plant genus Camellia after Georg Joseph Kamel. Also, an American botanist named Elmer Drew Merrill named a plant called Eugenia kamelii after him.
See also
In Spanish: Jiří Josef Camel para niños
- List of Catholic clergy scientists
Images for kids
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A portrait of Georg Joseph Kamel.
