"Oh God! When I reflect on fate of these botanists, indeed, it is uncertain whether I will name them wise or insane because of their enthusiasm about the plants".(From Linnaeus: Critica botanica, 1737)

A map showing the routes of Linnaeus' apostles. Only König is missing 

1. Christopher Tärnström (1703-1746)

The very first among the " apostles", some years older than Linnaeus himself.

Became a clergyman in 1739, failed as a school teacher in Östhammar and Waxholm. Was willing leave his wife and the children and with Linnaeus' support he got a job as the ship's priest on the East Indiaman Calmar. The destination was Canton and he had only a few concrete tasks. Primarily he would bring home a tea-bush or at least some tea seeds, secondarily he would make temperature observations, especially at the equator. A third task would to bring home to the Queen Lovisa Ulrika "living goldfishes". The voyage went smoothly by assistance of the trade-winds until they reached the South China Sea. Suddenly the trade-winds blew in the opposite direction and they were not able to get to Canton that year but were forced to hibernate in a seaport at the small island group Pulo Condor outside present Vietnam. Tärnström at once started to botanise, but suddenly his diary ends on Nov 10.  He was seriously infected by some tropical disease and by on Dec 4, he had passed away. He was buried on the shore with four other Swedes. Tärnström was the first of Linnaeus' disciples who died abroad and now the widow started to accuse Linnaeus loudly for inducing her husband to this fatal expedition. Linnaeus was forced to provide for her financially. Linnaeus named a tropical plant after Tärnström, Ternstromia.  

Naturalist. Born in Törnevalla, Östergötland, Jan 3, 1722. Parents: perpetual curate Anders Hasselquist and Helena Maria Pontin. Student in Uppsala in 1741. Studying medicine and natural history under Linnaeus. Intended to travel to "the Holy land", but was advised by Linnaeus not to go as his health situation was quite poor. Hasselquist on the other hand was stubborn and the financial conditions were soon solved. In August 1749 he began his expedition. The very same year he graduated in Medicine. He arrived at the sea-port Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey and further along his way he got ashore on some islands in the Mediterranean until he reached Egypt. Facing the culture of the Middle East resulted in a deep impact and culture chock, especially concerning the behaviour of women. The women were afraid to show their faces but were showing such parts of the human body European women never would show. "They were nude from the neck to the waist" Hasselquist described the women on the island of Melos, and thought that the female dancers only were "raising the lusts of flesh". This is really something to consider nowadays when Moslem immigrants react and are horrified at the western style and morals. After his stay in Egypt Hasselqvist brought with him a large amount of Natural History items back again to Izmir, but he was terribly sick. He passed away in the village of Bodga February 9, 1752, only thirty years old. His abundant material was confiscated as substitution for his debts, but all materials could be released by a personal action of Queen Lovisa Ulrika. In 1752 the collections arrived in Sweden and Linnaeus at once went to Drottningholm Palace, where the boxes were kept. He "turned dizzy at seeing such big amount of incredible things at one time". Later all collections of Hasselquist were donated to the University of Uppsala by the Swedish King.  Hasselquists diaries and notes were edited by Linnaeus under the name of Iter Palestinum or A travel to Holy Land (1757) which was translated into several languages.            

Son of a registering-clerk from Gällstad at Åsunden Lake.  Naturalist, clergyman.  Immediately after being ordained in Dec 1747, he got a much sought after among younger clergymen a job as ship-priest on the East Indiaman "Hoppet" (Hope) which was destined for Canton, China.  From Java another East Indiaman, "Freden" (Peace),  joined and the two ships cast anchor at Canton on Aug 21 same year. The voyage back started on Jan 27, 1749. "Hope" was so heavily loaded that the ship could use only small sails, but in spite of that the voyage proceeded without any problems and June 11 the two ships were back in Gothenburg.  The year after, 1750, Torén went on board a new East Indiaman, "Götha Leijon" (the Gothic Lion). In 1750 Osbeck also went to China but they were on board different ships.  In spite of that they returned to Gothenburg on the very same day, July 26, 1772. Torén’s health was broken and he passed away in Näsinge, Bohuslän, thirteen months after being back Sweden.  Before he died he wrote seven letters to Linnaeus about his travels and stay in China.  Torén also tried to bring home thee famous tea-bush but during the last voyage the plants withered. However, ten years later, a certain captain named Ekeberg succeeded to bring home a living tea-bush.  But even if Torén failed  concerning the tea-bush,  he brought home a considerable number of other plants. Linnaeus named Torenia after Torén.     

Born in Gästrikland and son of the clerk at the factory of Tollfors. He grew up and became "a tall and handsome young man". Linnaeus kept his attention on the young Loefling and he was usually considered to be "the most beloved disciple", like John. In 1743 Loefling achieved the Bachelor's degree at Uppsala and Linnaeus employed him as a teacher to his own son, Carl. Pehr studied Natural History under Linnaeus from 1745. Loefling was given the nickname "Vultur" (The vulture) by Linnaeus based on Loefling's extreme ability and sharp eyes to find the rarest plants. In 1751 the King of Spain asked Linnaeus to send somebody to investigate the Spanish flora.  Loefling was the man to send and well equipped, he went to Spain and made scientific research there for two years. The Spaniards intended at this time to investigate the area between Orinoco River and Amazon River in Venezuela, South America. "Pedro Loefling" was considered to be the man who was most suitable for the job.

Another task was to improve growing a certain kind of cinnamon which originally came from the districts of Quijos and Macas, a certain kind of cinnamon which was thought to be better and of a higher quality than the kind which was encountered on Ceylon. Loefling was given four accompanying assistants.  But the expedition was very badly equipped and the leader, Joseph Iturriuaga, led the participants from one problem to another.  They were suffering from hunger as there was not enough food, even more when the heat became more and more painful and serious fever diseases were prevalent. At the end of 1756 the half number of the expedition members had passed away. Loefling’s own fever attacks became more and more violent and at last he, too, passed away on February 22, 1756; he was buried below an orange tree at  the missionary station of Caraní. At this point his South American stay had lasted for two years. The Natural History collections comprised mostly medicinal herbs and fishes. When hearing about Loefing’s death, Linnaeus expresses deep mourning and grieves  about the fact that South  America would not be explored for a long time in the future. However, Linnaeus composes some of Loefling’s expedition notes in Iter Hispanicum (Travel to Spain), 1758.                  

7. Johan Gerhard Koenig (1728-1785)

Naturalist. Johann Gerhard König was born in Polish Livland.  Became private student of Linnaeus in 1757, lived in Denmark 1959-1767, naturalist at the nabob in Arcot, India 1768-1773, Doctor of medicine 1773, Danish Missionary in Tranquebar, India 1773-1785. Died in Jagrenatporum near Trankebar, India 1785. Dec 20, 1771 Linnaeus wrote to his friend John Ellis: "Koenig has found many new things in Tranquebar".

A sample of Koenig's own long hand writings

From Småland, born in Hälleberga. Rolander is undertaking that special voyage Linnaeus himself wanted to make. Linnaeus supported him financially. Unfortunately Rolander  fell sick already on his way out, and even more worse, he was suffering from a mental disturbance. He used big amounts of alcohol and he became more or less a drunkard.  In 1755 the expedition arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname.  Linnaeus had promised him a paradise on earth but instead it showed to be a veritable inferno. Rolander really felt cheated. His dreadful fright of wild animals,  like big snakes and lizards wired around the trees, big cats sneaking around in the rainforest and irritating insects plus a climate wet streaming with damp, resulted in the interruption of the expedition already after seven months. After the arrival home, Rolander's mental condition impaired, he got suspicious, continued to drink and at last, he passes away in Lund, Skåne, after moving from one place to another, economically totally broken. Before that he carefully guarded his plant collections and was not willing to share it to anybody, not even to Linnaeus. His refusal to share with Linnaeus made Linnaeus a burglar. Once when Rolander stayed in Stockholm Linnaeus broke into Rolander's room and stole a plant, a sauvagesia. After this incident Rolander moved to Denmark, cut off all contact with Linnaeus and donated his entire collections to Linnaeus' Danish competitors. Linnaeus got nothing. Linnaeus characterized Rolander as "the ungrateful disciple Rolander". Not until 1811 Rolander's expedition notes, consisting of 700 pages in Latin, was published posthumously in Denmark under the title  Diarium surinamense, quod sub itinere exotico conscripsit Daniel Rolander (Diary from Suriname which is composed during an exotic journey by Daniel Rolander).     
                                                         

Born in Reval, Livland, by Swedish parents. Bachelor's degree at the university of Åbo. Specializing in Botanic. Joined a whaling-ship to Spitzbergen. The stay was very short, three days only, but he documented everything he noticed carefully. He collected some moss and lichen which made Linnaeus satisfied. In spite of his short visit, Martin appears to be the first Swedish polar explorer. Also he collected some zoological and botanic items at the west coast of Norway. The rest of his life Martin spent as a poor tutor and naturalist i Finland. He also passed away in Finland.  

Physician and botanist, first barber-surgeon. His parents were Niklas Adler and Brita Geijer.

From northern Sweden. Botanist.
Defended a doctor's thesis on "De "De usu Muscorum..."(On the use of mosses...) before Linnaeus in 1766. In 1779 he went away to London as he received a Stiegler foundation scholarship. Here he was invited to join an expedition to Guinea, West Africa in 1773, arranged by the naturalist Henry Smeathman. "Africa can´t be worse than Lule lappmark" (Lule lappmark is a barren and cold area in north of Sweden), Berlin writes in letter to Linnaeus. At first Berlin is greatly overwhelmed by all things the West African flora and fauna offered. He compared himself to a blind man who had received his sight. How fantastic it was! "What splendour and  beauty!" he exclaimed.  He soon found many new, not yet described plants, but suddenly he fell sick and died already twelve months after his arrival to Africa. Africa, indeed, was worse than Lule lappmark!                                                           

Naturalist,  physician. Born in Huseby foundry Nov 30, 1739. Parents: county medical officer Johan Stensson Rothman and his second wife Anna Elisabet Rudebeck. Dr Rothman, the father of Jöran, was one of Linnaeus' teachers during Linnaeus' upper-school time in Växjö. 

Naturalist, botanist, physician. Born in Broddetorp, Västergötland in 1732. Parents: the judge-advocate at the Regiment of Skaraborg and Beata Vinge. He faced hard conditions and distress during his childhood, which cast a dark shadow over the whole life of Johan Peter. In 1751 he started to study at the University of Uppsala and made such a progress in Natural history that it was observed by Linnaeus, who made him a teacher for Linnaeus' own son Carl.

15. Adam Afzelius (1750-1837)

Naturalist. The family is descended from the farmer Afze Larsson of Broddetorp,  Hälunda parish. Adam Afzelius was born in the parsonage of Larf, Västergötland, Oct 7, 1750.  The parents were the dean and the Rev. Arvid Afzelius and Katarina Brisman. Adam was studying at Uppsala 1768-1776 and became in 1777 a university lecturer in Eastern languages. He got influences from Linnaeus and was greatly attracted to Natural science.  He was employed as botanices demonstrator and undertook between 1789 and 1791 a travel to England and Scotland. Further in the 1790ies he arranged some expeditions to Africa. In 1791 Afzelius is arriving to Sierra Leone with some colonizers who were sent by the Sierra Leone Association. Like many among the travellers he fell sick but in spite of that he was able to send home a big amount of botanic materials. In 1793 he was forced  to return to London because of bad health, but soon he was back in Africa again and could recommence his work and research there. But  Sept 20, 1794, resulted in a disaster. The area was bombed from the sea by a French fleet squadron. Afzelius' house, kitchen garden, and the worst - the entire collections were destroyed. He now had to start over again. In 1796 Afzelius returns to England bringing with him a considerable number of plants, insects and animals. In 1799 he is back on Swedish ground. During his absence he was raised to Doctor of medicine in 1797. Home again, he is now discharging the duty of professorship in Botanic and he is in 1812 appointed associate professor in materia medica. He has composed several essays and thesis, especially notable is  Egenhändiga Anteckningar af Carl Linnaeus om sig sjelf (Notes by Carl Linnaeus concerning himself, written by his own hand) . Afzelius intended to edit a book on the Flora and Fauna of Sierra Leone, but the plan was cancelled. His abundant Natural History and Ethnographic collections were partly donated, partly sold to the Academy of Uppsala. Afzelius passed away on Jan 30, 1837. He was married to Anna Sofia Dassau.

Naturalist, physician. Born in Uppsala February 27, 1748. Parents: the Dean and Rev. Erik Sparrman and Brita Högbom. Studied in Uppsala and got in touch with Linnaeus. Linnaeus Natural History lectures made a great impression to him. Linnaeus also noticed Sparrman and considered him to be much talented. Already at 17, he had the opportunity to join an East Indiaman as a ship-doctor. He returned to Sweden in 1767 and coming year he enrolled at Surgeon faculty. Sparrman was theoretically examined in 1769.  In 1772  the East India Company offers him a  voyage free of charge. He accepted the invitation and the voyage started from Gothenburg and ended in Cape Town. On April 16, 1772 Thunberg and Sparrman met in Cape Town. Sparrman arrived four days earlier than Thunberg. Both of them were greatly surprised to see each other and they now made some fruitful excursions together. But, they had difficulties to cooperate and soon they split up. Sparrman's stay in South Africa lasted for seven months whereupon he sailed away with James Cook.

The voyages with Cook became so extensive that it is estimated they would comprehend about 60.000 nautical miles before they again cast anchor in Cape Town in 1775. Thunberg on the other hand, remained in Cape Town until 1775 and in March, the this year he went to Japan. (See biographical notes under Thunberg!)

In 1781 Sparrman became professor of Natural History and in 1790 he was appointed an assessor of  Collegium medicum.

In 1787 an expedition to Senegal was made. The intention was to establish a Swedish colony - on behalf of the King Gustaf  III - which would differ from earlier colonizers in their attitude to the primitive population. This act would be a protest against the existing slavery, which Sweden considered was unworthy, shameful and inhuman. There was no colony established, but the efforts resulted nevertheless in some good, as Sparrman several times was called as a witness to trials in London where his given evidence strengthened the anti-slavery movement. The natural history outcome of the Senegal adventure was unfortunately quite poor.

Sparrman passed away in Stockholm  Aug 8, 1820.  A lof of publications had left his hand for instance: Resa till Goda Hoppsudden, södra polkretsen och omkring jordklotet, samt omkring Hottentott- och Kafferlandet åren 1772-86, (Travels to Cape of Good Hope, South Polar Circle and around the earth, and around in the Hottentot's and Kaffer's lands during 1772-86)(2:a delen 1783-1818). Some edtions were illustrated.

The plant family Sparrmannia is named after Sparrman.

(Wallström:Swedish explorers, 1982)

19. Johan Gustaf Wahlbom (1724-1808)

Naturalist, physician. Born Jan 7, 1724 in Svennevad, Nerike. Parents: foundry proprietor Johan Wahlbom and Anna Margareta born Ryning. Wahlbom enrolled as a student at Uppsala in student i Uppsala 1744 and he soon became a favourite disciple of Linnaeus. He was conferred a doctor's degree on medicine in 1751 and soon thereafter he was appointed by the Collegium medicum a professor of anatomy and medicine in Stockholm. Went to Berlin in order to continue his anatomical studies. He got an invitation to an employment as a county medical officer in Kalmar. The invitation was so attractive to him that he resigned his appointment as a professor, accepted the invitation and moved to Kalmar. As he belonged to the inner circle of Linnaeus' most confident men, it was supposed he would go abroad for scientific purposes like the others, but it did not happen. He remained in Kalmar all his life and worked here very successfully as a physician. In 1794 he finished his career and received royal signs and attained high honours as a first royal physician in order. During his lifetime he attained even more marks of respect and for instance he was crowned with laurel as a jubilee doctor in Uppsala in 1804. Wahlbom passed away in Kalmar in Jan 25, 1808. Linnaeus honoured Wahlbom by naming a microlepidoptera (a very small moth) species after him, Tortrix wahlbomii, and Thunberg termed one of his recently discovered flowers Wahlbomia indica. Since 1757 Wahlbom was married to Elisabet Kristina Björnstjerna, a daughter of the bishop of Kalmar.

20. Peter Jonas Bergius (1730-1790)

Naturalist, physician. Born on Erikstad, Hvittaryd parish, in July 6, 1730. At the age of sixteen he enrolled as a student in Lund. Was conferred a doctor's degree on medicine in  Uppsala in 1754. He now  took up his residence in Stockholm. Appointed a professor in natural history and pharmacology in 1761. Assessor in Collegium medicum in 1766. Bergius was as a doctor in great request. He also made research upon the cause of infectious diseases and their disseminations. His knowledge in botanic was great and unusual. He usually is considered to be among Linnaeus' disciples even though he did not perform any longer travels abroad. Through his will, he donated his precious plant collection to the Scientific Academy. A learning centre on gardening was founded on his domains at Karlberg avenue, named "the Bergian Garden". Bergius was the one who introduced the rhubarb in Sweden. Later his property was sold and for the amount received, Haga-Frescati area at Brunnsviken was purchased.  A number of publications has left Bergius' hands, some about medicine matters, others about gardening. Some plants were named after Bergius by Linnaeus. Peter Jonas passed away in Stockholm July 10, 1790. He did not marry.

21. Lars Montin (1723-1785)

Born in a clerical family in Lundby outside Göteborg. At first he came to Lund for studies, but later he went on to Uppsala where he started to study medicine. He travelled to alpine areas in Sweden in 1749. In 1750 he was conferred a doctor's degree on medicine. Thereupon he was working as a physician in the Gothenburg area for some years, later in the province of Halland.   

In the 1800th Century the county medical officers were introduced. One of the tasks of the physicians at that time, was to become familiar with the medical herbs. In time, most physicians became skilled botanists. But Montin did not travel abroad - he remained within the borders of Sweden - and his work developed to become much similar to Linnaeus' own work. Through his numerous contacts and connections he maintained an extensive network.   

Montin started to cooperate with Pehr Osbeck concerning the inventory of flora in the province of Halland, situated on the west coast of Sweden. There were also intense communications with Löfling, Thunberg och Sparrman. Financially Montin supported especially Thunberg. As a token of thanks,  he had the favour and pleasure to investigate and specify a number of plants collected by Thunberg and by other disciples of Linnaeus. 
Thunberg honoured Montin in dedicating him a certain African plant family,  the Montinia.

Montin passed away unmarried in Halmstad, 1785.

22. Peter Hernquist (1726-1808)

Veterinary surgeon, naturalist. "The father of Swedish Veterinary Science". Born in Skrelunda village, Skara parish, Västergötland on May 8, 1726. Parents: horseman Gunnar Jonsson and Kristina Andersdotter. Student at Uppsala 1750. Hernquist showed to possess extraordinary knowledge in natural history that it imposed to Linnaeus so much,  that Hernquist was entrusted with the task to proof-read Linnaeus' disputations. Many times Hernquist corrected Linnaeus for incorrect writings and quotations. Hernquist achieved the MA degree at Greifswald 1763 and after that,  he and some other Swedes were sent to France to continue, on behalf of the Swedish state, their studies in Veterinary Science in Lyon, at the Bourgelat Veterinary college. The financial support was suddenly stopped by the Estates of Sweden in 1765, and Hernquists companions   were forced to return to Sweden, unable to fulfil their studies. Only Hernquist was left in France and he was the only one capable enough to gain his livelihood by teaching natural history. In this way,  the studies were successfully completed. When he was back in Sweden in 1969,  he started to plan a Veterinary college institution in Sweden. By very poor funds he started on his own land,  Brogården at Skara in 1776 a horse hospital, a chemist's shop, a laboratory etc. By adding money of his own, he finally succeeded to introduce a Veterinary college. He himself was always the impelling force of enterprise, until his death, taking place in Dec 18, 1808. He married in 1781 Helena Maria Skarin.

Introduction page

1. Carl(Carolus) Linnaeus

2. Linnaeus' disciples

3. Some Swedish entomologists and other naturalists from the 1700th,  1800th, 1900th and early 2000th Centuries

4. Some foreign entomologists from the 1600th, 1700th, 1800th, 1900th, 2000th and 2100th Centuries