Royal Botanical Expedition to New Granada
Encyclopedia
The Royal Botanical Expedition to New Granada took place between 1783 and 1816 in the territories of New Granada
, covering present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Peru and northern Brazil and western Guyana.
The project was rejected twice before being finally approved in 1783 by King Charles III of Spain
, and was headed by José Celestino Mutis
, a Spanish priest, who was also a botanist, mathematician and teacher.
Before the King sanctioned the expedition, Mutis had already proposed it on two occasions, on 1763 and 1764 respectively, but he had been ignored. However, years later, after he retired to live to Mariquita, he met Archbishop and Viceroy Antonio Caballero y Góngora
, who made a third proposal on his behalf that was finally accepted by the King, who named Mutis first botanist and astronomer of the botanical expedition.
. When it was known that the expedition was finally under way it aroused the interest of the European scientific community at the time. On 1784 Mutis was appointed member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
, and a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine. His news about American plants were eagerly awaited by botanists in Europe, keen on learning about the new species of plants. On his "Memorial Instructivo y Curioso de la Corte de Madrid" he had reported his conclusions on the medicinal uses of certain plant species of New Granada, and informed the Spanish Crown about the possibility of trading with tea leaves coming from Bogotá, whose properties he praised.
In 1790 they moved to Santa Fe
where exploration activities would continue until 1816. Mutis recruited new members, such as the botanist Francisco Antonio Zea, his nephew Sinforoso Mutis, geographer Francisco José de Caldas and chemist and zoologist Jorge Tadeo Lozano. José Antonio Candamo was hired to look after the Herbarium. In Santa Fe Mutis funded a free public School of Drawing, and following Linnaeus criteria began classifying the flora of New Granada under orders of the King who had commissioned him with the writing of the Flora de Bogota. He also created an Astronomical Observatory, considered to be the first high-learning scientific institution of Colombia.
Several smaller expeditions were sent to extend geographical coverage. Among them was the one led by Francisco José de Caldas, who explored the present lands of Ecuador during four years, returning to Santa Fe in 1808 bringing a very extensive herbarium. Another member, Fray Diego Garcia, explored the Upper Magdalena Valley, between La Palma and Timana, reaching the Andaquíes area and collecting many animal and geological samples. Additionally, Eloy Valenzuela, who had been deputy director of the expedition during its first year, was commissioned to Santander, although he had to prematurely retire to Bucaramanga due to health problems.
On 1801 Alexander von Humboldt
visited Mutis during his expedition to America, sharing quarters with him for over two months. He expressed his admiration for Mutis work and praised his botanical collection.
All together Mutis led the expedition for over 25 years during which they explored some 8,000 km2. He developed a meticulous methodology that included harvesting of the samples in the field together with detailed descriptions, including data about the surrounding environment of each specie and their medical or industrial uses. Mutis died on September 11, 1808, and was replaced by his nephew Sinforoso, who led the expedition until 1816.
6,000 new species were discovered and described during the expedition. As a result 6717 drawings and 20,000 plates with 2,738 different taxons were produced.
in Washington, started to study the Herbarium. In 1937 on the occasion of the bicentennial celebrations of Mutis birth, the governments of Spain and Colombia jointly produced the publication of the Flora de la Real Expedición Botánica del Nuevo Reino de GranadaIn 1952 began the publication of the enormous work in its entirety, that is still not completed and is expected to need more than sixty volumes, with the added requirement of having to identify the plants under the drawings according to the current nomenclature and creating a meaningful descriptive text adapted to modern times.
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All plates, maps, correspondence, notes and manuscripts, and all the material from Mutis museum composed of more than 24,000 dried plants, 5,000 drawings of plants by his pupils, and a collection of woods, shells, resins, minerals, and skins, were sent to Spain was inventoried and classified on arrival to Madrid, ending up at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
where they have remained since, except for a small part that was sent in 1889 to the Real Academia de la Historia.
New Granada
New Granada may refer to various former national denominations for the present-day country of Colombia.*New Kingdom of Granada, from 1538 to 1717*Viceroyalty of New Granada, from 1717 to 1810, re-established from 1816 to 1819...
, covering present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Peru and northern Brazil and western Guyana.
The project was rejected twice before being finally approved in 1783 by King Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
, and was headed by José Celestino Mutis
José Celestino Mutis
-External links:*** at The Catholic Encyclopedia official site...
, a Spanish priest, who was also a botanist, mathematician and teacher.
Background
Antonio Caballero y Góngora
Antonio Caballero y Góngora was a Spanish Roman Catholic prelate and, from 1782 to 1789, viceroy of New Granada....
, who made a third proposal on his behalf that was finally accepted by the King, who named Mutis first botanist and astronomer of the botanical expedition.
Preparations
Since the first failed proposals Mutis had maintained regular contacts with European scientists, among which was Carolus 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...
. When it was known that the expedition was finally under way it aroused the interest of the European scientific community at the time. On 1784 Mutis was appointed member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
, and a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine. His news about American plants were eagerly awaited by botanists in Europe, keen on learning about the new species of plants. On his "Memorial Instructivo y Curioso de la Corte de Madrid" he had reported his conclusions on the medicinal uses of certain plant species of New Granada, and informed the Spanish Crown about the possibility of trading with tea leaves coming from Bogotá, whose properties he praised.
Expedition
On April 29, 1783 the expedition was formally launched with a team composed by botanists Eloy Valenzuela and Fray Diego García, geographers Bruno Landete and Jose Camblor, painters Pablo Antonio Garcia, Francisco Javier Matiz, Anthony and Nicholas Cortez, Vicente Sánchez, Antonio Barrionuevo, Vicente Silva, his assistant Salvador Rizo Blanco, foreman Roque Gutierrez, several collectors and a messenger.In 1790 they moved to Santa Fe
Santa Fe
Santa Fe or Santa Fé may refer to:-Places:*Argentina**Santa Fe, Argentina, a city in Argentina**Santa Fe Province, a province of Argentina*Bolivia**Santa Fé , Bolivia...
where exploration activities would continue until 1816. Mutis recruited new members, such as the botanist Francisco Antonio Zea, his nephew Sinforoso Mutis, geographer Francisco José de Caldas and chemist and zoologist Jorge Tadeo Lozano. José Antonio Candamo was hired to look after the Herbarium. In Santa Fe Mutis funded a free public School of Drawing, and following Linnaeus criteria began classifying the flora of New Granada under orders of the King who had commissioned him with the writing of the Flora de Bogota. He also created an Astronomical Observatory, considered to be the first high-learning scientific institution of Colombia.
Several smaller expeditions were sent to extend geographical coverage. Among them was the one led by Francisco José de Caldas, who explored the present lands of Ecuador during four years, returning to Santa Fe in 1808 bringing a very extensive herbarium. Another member, Fray Diego Garcia, explored the Upper Magdalena Valley, between La Palma and Timana, reaching the Andaquíes area and collecting many animal and geological samples. Additionally, Eloy Valenzuela, who had been deputy director of the expedition during its first year, was commissioned to Santander, although he had to prematurely retire to Bucaramanga due to health problems.
On 1801 Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
visited Mutis during his expedition to America, sharing quarters with him for over two months. He expressed his admiration for Mutis work and praised his botanical collection.
All together Mutis led the expedition for over 25 years during which they explored some 8,000 km2. He developed a meticulous methodology that included harvesting of the samples in the field together with detailed descriptions, including data about the surrounding environment of each specie and their medical or industrial uses. Mutis died on September 11, 1808, and was replaced by his nephew Sinforoso, who led the expedition until 1816.
6,000 new species were discovered and described during the expedition. As a result 6717 drawings and 20,000 plates with 2,738 different taxons were produced.
Publications
Between 1793 and 1794 one of Mutis works, Arcanum of Quina, where he describes seven new species with medical and therapeutic uses, was published in a Santa Fe newspaper. 306 of Mutis's taxons were published by Linnaeus, Linneo fil., Humboldt & Bonpland, Cavanilles and certain botanists of the 20th century. On 1932 F. P. Killip, curator of the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington, started to study the Herbarium. In 1937 on the occasion of the bicentennial celebrations of Mutis birth, the governments of Spain and Colombia jointly produced the publication of the Flora de la Real Expedición Botánica del Nuevo Reino de GranadaIn 1952 began the publication of the enormous work in its entirety, that is still not completed and is expected to need more than sixty volumes, with the added requirement of having to identify the plants under the drawings according to the current nomenclature and creating a meaningful descriptive text adapted to modern times.
Aftermath
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
The is an botanical garden located at , next to the Prado Museum in Madrid ....
where they have remained since, except for a small part that was sent in 1889 to the Real Academia de la Historia.
See also
- Botanical Expedition to the Viceroyalty of PeruBotanical Expedition to the Viceroyalty of PeruThe Botanical Expedition to the Viceroyalty of Peru took place in the territories of the Viceroyalty of Peru and Chile between 1777 and 1788.It was commissioned by King Charles III of Spain and headed by botanists Hipólito Ruiz López, José Antonio Pavón Jiménez and Joseph Dombey.-Background:During...
- Royal Botanical Expedition to New SpainRoyal Botanical Expedition to New SpainThe Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain was a scientific expedition that took place in the territories of New Spain between 1787 and 1803....
External links
- Mutis Herbarium at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid