Peter Forsskål
Encyclopedia
Peter Forsskål, sometimes spelled Pehr Forsskål, Peter Forskaol, Petrus Forskål or Pehr Forsskåhl, (11 January 1732 - 11 July 1763) was a Swedish
explorer
, orientalist
, naturalist
and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus
.
in Finland
(then a part of Sweden
) where his father, Johannes Forsskål, served as a clergyman at the time, but came to mainland Sweden in 1741 when the father received the parish of Tegelsmora in Uppland
(and the archdiocese of Uppsala
). As was common at the time, he enrolled at Uppsala University
at a young age in 1742, but returned home for some time and, after studies on his own, rematriculated in Uppsala there in 1751, where he completed a theological
degree the same year.
, but apparently also studied with the orientalist Carl Aurivillius, whose contacts with the Göttingen orientalist Johann David Michaelis
are likely to be seen as the reason Forsskål travelled to the University of Göttingen in 1753; he studied Oriental languages and Philosophy and completed a doctorate there with a dissertation entitled Dubia de principiis philosophiae recentioris (1756).
Returning to Uppsala in 1756, he wanted to pursue studies in Economics. In November 1759 he published his dissertaion, a at time controversial pamphlet, Tankar om borgerliga friheten (Thoughts on civil liberty) which was suppressed by the authorities on the day of publication. The dissertation De libertate civili ("On civil freedom"), advocating complete freedom of print, was censored by the "Hat
" government and caused him to be warned by the Royal Chancellery.
to join, amongst others, the orientalist and mathematician Carsten Niebuhr
on an expedition to Arabia. The journey first went to Egypt where they stayed for about a year, with Forsskål pursuing studies in Arabic dialect
s, and arrived in South Arabia (Yemen
or "Arabia Felix") at the end of December 1762. Just 31 years old, Forsskål worked hard on collecting botanical and zoological specimens, but fell ill with malaria
and died in July 1763.
Linnaeus mourned the death of his young student and named one of the plants Forsskål had sent home Forsskaolea tenacissima
because the plant was as stubborn and persistent as the young Finn had been.
; his herbarium
was reconstructed some 150 years after his death by the botanist Carl Christensen
.
.
In the important work Descriptiones animalium which was published 12 years after his death and which was attributed to him the spelling "Forskål" had been used. In current zoological sources both spellings Forskål and Forsskål are in use, Forskåhl and Forsskåhl are not used.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
, orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
, naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus
Apostles of Linnaeus
The Apostles of Linnaeus were a group of students who carried out botanical and zoological expeditions throughout the world that were either devised or approved by botanist Carl Linnaeus. The expeditions took place during the latter half of the 18th century and the students were designated...
.
Early life
Forsskål was born in HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(then a part of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) where his father, Johannes Forsskål, served as a clergyman at the time, but came to mainland Sweden in 1741 when the father received the parish of Tegelsmora in Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
(and the archdiocese of Uppsala
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
). As was common at the time, he enrolled at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
at a young age in 1742, but returned home for some time and, after studies on his own, rematriculated in Uppsala there in 1751, where he completed a theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
degree the same year.
Linnaeus's disciple
In Uppsala he was one of the students of LinnaeusCarolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, but apparently also studied with the orientalist Carl Aurivillius, whose contacts with the Göttingen orientalist Johann David Michaelis
Johann David Michaelis
Johann David Michaelis , a famous and eloquent German biblical scholar and teacher, was a member of a family which had the chief part in maintaining that solid discipline in Hebrew and the cognate languages which distinguished the University of Halle in the period of Pietism.-Life and work:J. D...
are likely to be seen as the reason Forsskål travelled to the University of Göttingen in 1753; he studied Oriental languages and Philosophy and completed a doctorate there with a dissertation entitled Dubia de principiis philosophiae recentioris (1756).
Returning to Uppsala in 1756, he wanted to pursue studies in Economics. In November 1759 he published his dissertaion, a at time controversial pamphlet, Tankar om borgerliga friheten (Thoughts on civil liberty) which was suppressed by the authorities on the day of publication. The dissertation De libertate civili ("On civil freedom"), advocating complete freedom of print, was censored by the "Hat
Hats (party)
The Hats were a Swedish political faction active during the Age of Liberty . Their name derives from the tricorne hat worn by officers and gentlemen. They vied for power with the Caps. The Hats, who ruled Sweden from 1738 to 1765, advocated an alliance with France and an assertive foreign policy,...
" government and caused him to be warned by the Royal Chancellery.
Journey to Yemen and Death
On Michaelis' recommendation, and with Linnaeus's approval, Forsskål the next year (1760) was appointed by king Frederick V of DenmarkFrederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
to join, amongst others, the orientalist and mathematician Carsten Niebuhr
Carsten Niebuhr
Carsten Niebuhr or Karsten Niebuhr , a German mathematician, cartographer, and explorer in the service of Denmark, is renowned for his travels on the Arabian peninsula.-Biography:...
on an expedition to Arabia. The journey first went to Egypt where they stayed for about a year, with Forsskål pursuing studies in Arabic dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
s, and arrived in South Arabia (Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
or "Arabia Felix") at the end of December 1762. Just 31 years old, Forsskål worked hard on collecting botanical and zoological specimens, but fell ill with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and died in July 1763.
Linnaeus mourned the death of his young student and named one of the plants Forsskål had sent home Forsskaolea tenacissima
Forsskaolea tenacissima
Forsskaolea tenacissima is a member of the non-stinging nettles genus Forsskaolea and is in the same family as the stinging kind, Urticaceae. Described as "looking like a tough character that does not want or need a caress", F...
because the plant was as stubborn and persistent as the young Finn had been.
Legacy
His companion Niebuhr, who was the only one of the participants to survive the expedition, was entrusted with the care of editing his manuscripts, and published in 1775 Descriptiones Animalium - Avium, amphiborum, insectorum, vermium quæ in itinere orientali observavit Petrus Forskål. In the same year his account of the plants of Yemen and of lower Egypt also appeared, under the title of Flora Ægyptiaco-Arabica sive descriptiones plantarum quas per Ægyptum Inferiorem et Arabiam felicem detexit, illustravit Petrus Forskål. Most of his specimens were lost in transport or deteriorated due to bad storage in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
; his herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
was reconstructed some 150 years after his death by the botanist Carl Christensen
Carl Christensen
Carl Frederik Albert Christensen was a Danish systematic botanist. He graduated in natural history from the University of Copenhagen under professor Eugenius Warming. He was first school teacher in Copenhagen, later superintendent at the Botanical Museum. He was a specialist in ferns and published...
.
Variant spellings of his name
In subsequent botanical works many different variants of his name were recorded (Forsskål, Forskål, Forskåhl, Forsskåhl, Forsskaal, Forskal, Forsskal, occasionally also Forsskaol). For citing the scientist's name it was recommended not to replace å by a. Family members in these times used three alternative spellings Forsskål, Forskål and Forsskåhl. Modern members of the family seem to prefer Forsskåhl. Peter's father and brother used the spelling Forsskåhl. Peter himself alternatively used Forsskål and Forsskaal, in approximately the same frequency, but the choice depended on the language of a letter's recipient. In one letter to England he once spelled his name Forsskol. Carl Linnæus spelled Peter's name Forskåhl, not in agreement with the student's father. In publications issed during Peter's lifetime the spelling Forsskål was used, including in his dissertation issued in 1756 in GöttingenGöttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
.
In the important work Descriptiones animalium which was published 12 years after his death and which was attributed to him the spelling "Forskål" had been used. In current zoological sources both spellings Forskål and Forsskål are in use, Forskåhl and Forsskåhl are not used.
Publications
- Thoughts on Civil Liberty / Tankar om borgerliga friheten (1759). Stockholm: Bokförlaget Atlantis, 2009. ISBN 73533607. [Edited and translated by David Goldberg, Gunilla Jonsson, Helena Jäderblom, Gunnar Persson and Thomas von Vegesack, assisted by David Shaw.]
- Flora aegyptiaco-arabica …. 1775.
- Icones rerum naturalium. 1776.
- Resa till lyklige Arabien. 1950.
External links
- Biography of Forsskål with links to other web sites on him, and includes how he used Arabic names for species names.
- Royal Library in Copenhagen, Dep. of Manuscripts, mainly on Forsskål's contributions to the knowledge of Arabian pharmacognosy
- Thoughts on Civil Liberty English, French, German, Swedish and Spanish translations of Forsskal's original (uncensored) manuscript.