Ladislau de Souza Mello Netto
Encyclopedia
Ladislau de Souza Mello Netto (1838-1894) was a Brazil
ian botanist and director of the Brazilian National Museum in Rio de Janeiro
.
Ladislau Netto was appointed museum director in 1870, as a substitute, and 1876, as full director, by the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II
, who strove to make the museum a showcase of science and learning. Thus, Ladislau Netto became the most influential Brazilian scientist of his times, with a mandate for modernizing and expanding the museum and making contacts with foreign scientists.
Although he was a French-trained botanist, he was drawn to anthropology
, especially physical anthropology and the question of the origin of the Brazilian Indians.
In 1874 Ladislau Netto was taken in by a fake Phoenicia
n inscription from Brazil's vast interior state of Minas Gerais
. When specialistas debunked the supposed record of these prehistoric navigator far from the Mediterrians, Netto blamed foreigners for the fabrication of the hoax.
In 1876, he founded the museum's scientific the journal, the Archivos do Museu Nacional, that is still published. He hired several foreign scientists as traveling naturalists, including Fritz Müller
, Emílio Goeldi, Domingos Soares Ferreira Penna
, Hermann von Ihering
, Wilhelm Schwacke, Orville Adalbert Derby
, and others. These he had to fire in 1890, as a result of the proclamation of Brazilian independence and the exile of the emperor.
In 1882, the National Museum, directed by him, promoted the Brazilian Anthropological Exhibition
, which had international influence. Netto retired in 1893.
Ladislau Netto is remembered for his use of science to back racism and elitism, and for his attempts to maintain and concentrate his power in a system where political connections were everything and science was just for show.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian botanist and director of the Brazilian National Museum in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
Ladislau Netto was appointed museum director in 1870, as a substitute, and 1876, as full director, by the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
, who strove to make the museum a showcase of science and learning. Thus, Ladislau Netto became the most influential Brazilian scientist of his times, with a mandate for modernizing and expanding the museum and making contacts with foreign scientists.
Although he was a French-trained botanist, he was drawn to anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, especially physical anthropology and the question of the origin of the Brazilian Indians.
In 1874 Ladislau Netto was taken in by a fake Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n inscription from Brazil's vast interior state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
. When specialistas debunked the supposed record of these prehistoric navigator far from the Mediterrians, Netto blamed foreigners for the fabrication of the hoax.
In 1876, he founded the museum's scientific the journal, the Archivos do Museu Nacional, that is still published. He hired several foreign scientists as traveling naturalists, including Fritz Müller
Fritz Müller
Johann Friedrich Theodor Müller , better known as Fritz Müller, and also as Müller-Desterro, was a German biologist and physician who emigrated to southern Brazil, where he lived in and near the German community of Blumenau, Santa Catarina...
, Emílio Goeldi, Domingos Soares Ferreira Penna
Domingos Soares Ferreira Penna
Domingos Soares Ferreira Penna was a Brazilian naturalist from the state of Minas Gerais, who founded the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, in Belém, and undertook important research in the archeology and natural resources of the lower Amazon River valley.In 1870, he discovered one of the most...
, Hermann von Ihering
Hermann von Ihering
Hermann von Ihering was a German-Brazilian zoologist. He was born at Kiel, Germany, and died at Gießen, Germany. He was the oldest son of Rudolf von Jhering.-Biography:...
, Wilhelm Schwacke, Orville Adalbert Derby
Orville Adalbert Derby
Orville Adalbert Derby was an American geologist who worked in Brazil.-Education:Derby studied geology at the Cornell University, obtaining his degree in 1873...
, and others. These he had to fire in 1890, as a result of the proclamation of Brazilian independence and the exile of the emperor.
In 1882, the National Museum, directed by him, promoted the Brazilian Anthropological Exhibition
Brazilian Anthropological Exhibition of 1882
The Brazilian Anthropological Exhibition of 1882 was one of the most important scientific events of the nineteenth-century Brazil, conducted by the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro and heavily influenced by Darwinism.-History:...
, which had international influence. Netto retired in 1893.
Ladislau Netto is remembered for his use of science to back racism and elitism, and for his attempts to maintain and concentrate his power in a system where political connections were everything and science was just for show.