Peter Artedi

Peter Artedi ( Peter also Arctaedius; * February 27, 1705 in the parish Anundsjö, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, † September 27, 1735 in Amsterdam) was a Swedish naturalist. He is regarded as the "father of Ichthyology ."

During his lifetime Artedi published no works. He had, however, very extensive work already partially completed, which were published posthumously, or have been, among others, by Carolus Linnaeus, a fellow student and friend, further processed. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Art ".

• 3.1 Notes to the Bibliotheca Ichthyologica

Life and work

Early life

Peter was the second child of Olaus Arctaedius and his wife Helena, born Sidena. Olaus had been four years head of the church district before his son Peter was born. His mother also had clerical background, because she was the daughter of Peter Sidenius of Stockholm, a teacher of philosophy and judges. This religious orientation of the parental home coined course Peter, which was expected that he continue the family tradition and should become a clergyman. In September 1716 the whole family moved after Nordmaling, a place close to the Swedish coast, where he helped his now almost 80 years old and nearly blind father in the management of the parish. The now existing proximity to the sea made ​​Peters previously existing latent interest in nature awaken completely. He quickly began to observe the rich flora and fauna, and spent a lot of time in nature.

In the same year he went to school in Härnösand, though had contact with peers, but dealt more with the study of fishing and gathering of plants. As soon as he had sufficient basic knowledge of the Latin language appropriated, he began the works of the earlier alchemists to read. Its generally good performance in school meant that he successfully completed high school in Härnösand and enrolled in the University of Uppsala in 1724.

Time of study

Originally Peter came to the University to follow the family tradition and to study theology, but his own interest in nature and the natural sciences meant that he ignored his father's advice and decided to study chemistry. At this time he was apparently the only student in chemistry at the university. So it was that he had to teach himself a lot, because there were only two professors, Lars Roberg, a distinguished anatomists and zoologists, as well as Olof Rudbeck the Younger, who taught natural history. Both, however, were busy with other things, and the former is said to have never held a public lecture. So Artedi was largely left to themselves.

Four years after he began his university career, Carl Linnaeus came to Uppsala with the intent to begin a study of the natural sciences, and looked for students with similar interests. Of course, he soon met on Artedi. The contact with him must have been of great benefit for Linnaeus, after all he was a few years older and had already studied some semesters. The two now met almost daily to discuss their results and theories. In addition, they complemented each other very well, because Artedi worked the areas Alchemy, Ichthyology and Herpetology, leaving botany, birds and insects Linnaeus. Both developed such a close cooperation that they promised each other, should one happen a bit of both, so the other one would lead his work to an end.

In 1734, after ten years at the University of Uppsala, Artedi wanted to travel abroad in order to expand his studies. To this end, he borrowed money and other equipment at his in-laws and first traveled to London, where he stayed only a short time to consult the work of Francis Willughbys and John Ray.

In July 1734 Artedi traveled to Holland, where he met Linnaeus in Leiden. The latter did already some time there on, and Albertus Seba, a wealthy pharmacist German origin, tried continually vain, Linnaeus to move to the study of fish. Linnaeus made ​​Seba known with Artedi and this came the desire Sebas very happy after. He now lived near the river and examined the fish and insects from the possession Sebas, who had created a Private Collection.

Circumstances of his death

It is reported that Artedi has more or less lived on their own and also liked to stay even in taverns. On the day of his death he was said to be up approximately one clock at night in Sebas house and have talked with several people about philosophical topics. On the way home he is said to have lost in a dark place balance, have fallen and drowned in a canal. The accident was discovered the next day and brought his body to the city hospital.

Ehrentaxa

Carl Linnaeus named in his honor the genus Artedia the plant family of Umbelliferae ( Apiaceae ). Furthermore, there is at the Cottidae ( bullheads ) nordostpazifische the genus Artedius. At the circumantarktischen subordination Notothenioidei the genus Artedidraco belongs ( family Artedidraconidae ) with multiple types.

Works

• Historia piscium universalis ( 1735)
• Synonymologia manuscript ( 1735)
• Prolegomena institutionum ( 1735)
• Bibliotheca Ichthyologica ( 1738)
• Philosophia Ichthyologica ( 1738)

Notes to the Bibliotheca Ichthyologica

The 5 -volume Bibliotheca Ichthyologica contains a critical appraisal of the work of other ichthyologists, a detailed morphological characterization of the fish and a diagnostic key for 45 genera and the description of 72 species. The classification of fish in four orders was later adopted by Linnaeus. Johann Julius Walbaum in 1792 was Artedius renovatus out.