José Quer y Martínez facts for kids
José Quer y Martínez (born 1695, died 1764) was an important Spanish doctor and botanist. A botanist is someone who studies plants. When other scientists talk about plants he discovered or described, they often use the short name Quer to give him credit.
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Early Life and Studies
José Quer y Martínez was born in 1695 in Perpignan, a city in Spain. He studied medicine and surgery there. He was especially interested in botany, which is the scientific study of plants.
A Military Botanist
Later, José Quer joined the army as a military surgeon. This job allowed him to travel a lot. He explored many places, including Spain, France, Italy, and northern Africa. During his travels, he collected many plant samples. He also gathered a large number of seeds and living plants.
Founding the Royal Botanical Garden
José Quer used the plants and seeds he collected to start a special garden. This garden began in 1755. Over time, it grew and changed. Today, it is known as the famous Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. It is a very important place for studying plants.
His Major Work: Spanish Flora
In 1762, José Quer started writing a big book. Its title was Spanish Flora and history of the plants that are grown in Spain. This book was meant to describe all the plants found in Spain. He even wrote letters to Carl Linnaeus, a very famous Swedish botanist.
Sadly, José Quer passed away before he could finish his book. He only published four parts of it. Another botanist, Casimiro Gomez Ortega, completed the rest of the work later. José Quer also gave two public talks. One was about "Uva ursi" (a type of plant) in 1763. The other was about "Cicuta" (hemlock) in 1764.
See also
- Josep Quer i Martínez | Galeria de Metges Catalans (in Catalan)
In Spanish: José Quer y Martínez para niños
