Johan Ernst Gunnerus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Right Reverend
Johan Ernst Gunnerus
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| Born | 26 February 1718 |
| Died | 25 September 1773 (aged 55) |
| Education | University of Copenhagen, University of Halle, University of Jena |
| Known for | Flora Norvegica |
| Title | Bishop |
| Parent(s) | Erasmus Gunnerus and Anna Gerhard |
| Awards | Foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Bishop, botanist, zoologist |
| Institutions | Bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros, Trondheim; University of Copenhagen |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Gunnerus |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Gunnerus |
Johan Ernst Gunnerus (born February 26, 1718 – died September 25, 1773) was an important Norwegian bishop and a keen botanist. He was the bishop of Nidaros (in Trondheim) from 1758 until he passed away. He also taught theology at the University of Copenhagen.
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About Johan Ernst Gunnerus
Gunnerus was born and grew up in Christiania, Norway. He started studying at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark in 1737. However, he had to pause his studies for three years because he didn't have much money.
He continued his studies in Copenhagen from 1740. Later, he studied in Halle, Germany, from 1742, and in Jena, also in Germany, from 1744. He earned his Master's degree in 1745. In 1753, he became part of the Philosophy Faculty at Jena.
In 1754, he was called back to Denmark. He became a Professor and Rector at Herlufsholm, a well-known school. In 1758, he became the Bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros in Trondheim, Norway.
His Love for Nature
Gunnerus was very interested in natural history, which is the study of plants, animals, and nature. He collected many different plant and animal samples during his trips to central and northern Norway. He also encouraged other people to send him specimens.
In 1760, Gunnerus teamed up with two historians, Gerhard Schöning and Peter Frederik Suhm. Together, they started the Trondheim Society. This society later received official royal recognition in 1767. It then became known as the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters.
Gunnerus was the vice President and Director of this Society from 1767 to 1773. The Society began publishing its own journal in 1761. It was first called Det Trondhiemske Selskabs Skrifter. Today, it is still published as Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskabs Skrifter. In 1765, Gunnerus wrote about a large basking shark in this journal. He gave it the scientific name Squalus maximius.
His Writings and Discoveries
Gunnerus wrote an important book called Flora Norvegica (1766–1776). This book described the plants of Norway. He also added notes about the birds of northern Norway to Knud Leem's book, Beskrivelse over Finmarkens Lapper (1767). This book was later translated into English in 1808. In it, Gunnerus was the first person to give a scientific name to the bird known as the Greenshank.
Gunnerus often talked about his discoveries with Carolus Linnæus, who is also known as Carl von Linné. They wrote many letters to each other. The original letters from Carolus Linnæus are kept at the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters in Trondheim. Gunnerus's letters to Linnæus are at the Linnean Society of London.
Gunnerus was also the first person to suggest something very interesting about the northern lights. He thought that since the northern lights are caused by the Sun, there must also be similar lights, or auroras, around the moon, Venus, and Mercury.
In 1766, Gunnerus was chosen as a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. This was a great honor.
Legacy
The plant group Gunnera was named after him. Also, the Gunnerus Library is named in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Johan Ernst Gunnerus para niños
- Category:Taxa named by Johan Ernst Gunnerus
