Who was Carl Linnaeus? – Ask the pharmacist

Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist.  He is most often credited with establishing a system to name plants and animals often referred to as taxonomy.

His influence on scientific names can be seen today.  For example, the ”L.” following Geranium palustre L. indicates that the species was named by Carolus Linnaeus.

Systema Naturae was published in 1735 by Carl Linnaeus that introducted the topic of taxonomy.

By 1758 Linnaeus published his 10th edition of the book with the most descriptive title to date.

The full title of Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis or translated: “System of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera and species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places”. 

As was customary during this time of history, scientific writing was published in Latin.

This book categorized more than 10,000 species of organisms that included more than 6,000 plants and 4,200 animals.

Linnaeus developed his classification of the plant kingdom in an attempt to describe and understand the natural world as a reflection of the logic of God’s creation.

Linnaeus believed in God’s creation, and that there were no deeper relationships to be expressed. He is frequently quoted to have said: “God created, Linnaeus organized” (Latin: Deus creavit, Linnaeus disposuit)

A system developed by Carl Linnaeus who was a Christian and saw God’s hand over all of creation. He believed he was called to reveal the orderliness of God’s creation.

In his book Systeme Naturae he writes,

“Finis creationis telluris est gloria Dei ex opere Naturae per Hominem solum.” (The end of the Earth’s creation is the glory of God, as seen from the works of Nature by man alone.)

Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD


Categories: Ask the Pharmacist, Plant Medicine