The great naturalists were famous scientists who studied nature directly interacting with it. This word can be deciphered if we divide it into two parts: “nature” is nature, and “test” is verification.
Great Naturalists: List
In the period of natural science, when nature needed to be described and studied as a whole, i.e., to use knowledge from various fields of science, such as botany, astronomy, zoology, mineralogy, the first natural scientists appeared in different countries of the world. It is worth listing the scientists, and telling about some in more detail, who managed to make interesting discoveries when there were still so few opportunities and knowledge:
- Steve Irwin (Australia).
- Terry Irwin (Australia).
- Alice Manfield (Australia).
- Jose Bonifaciu de Andrada and Silva (Brazil).
- Bartolomeu Lawrence de Guzmán (Brazil).
- Eric Pontoppidan (Denmark).
- Frederick Faber (Denmark).
Great naturalists were in France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Croatia, Switzerland, and Russia, among which were Vyacheslav Pavlovich Kovrigo, Alexander Fedorovich Kotts, and Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov.
First naturalist
An interest in nature appeared in humans even in antiquity when he began to think about which plants can be eaten and which not, how to hunt animals and how to tame them.
The first great natural scientists, including Aristotle, appeared in Ancient Greece. He was the first to study and observe nature and made an attempt to systematize the acquired knowledge. At the same time, the scientist attached sketches to his observations, which helped in the study. This was the first scientific manual that was used for a long time in the study.
During his life, Aristotle created a large zoological garden, and several thousand people were given to help him, among them fishermen, shepherds, hunters, where everyone was known as a master in his own direction.
Based on the collected information, the scientist wrote more than 50 books, where he divided the organisms into protozoa, which were at the lowest stage of development, and also identified other living organisms that are more complex. He singled out a group of animals, which today are called Arthropods, which include insects and crustaceans.
Great Naturalists: Karl Linney
Gradually, knowledge accumulated, plants and animals had to give names, but on different continents people gave their names, resulting in confusion. It was especially difficult for scientists to share knowledge and experience, because it was difficult to understand what or who was in question. The Aristotle system, which was used for a long time, was outdated and was no longer relevant when new lands were discovered.
The first to realize that it was time to put things in order was the Swedish scientist Karl Linney, who did a great job in the 17th century.
He gave each species a name, and in Latin, so that everyone could understand in different countries of the world. Organisms were also divided into groups and classifications and received a double name (subspecies). For example, birch has an additional name as flat-leafed and dwarf, the bear is brown and white.
The Linnaeus system is still used today, although at different times it has been modified and supplemented, but the core of this system has remained the same.
Charles Darwin
In the 19th century, the famous scientist Charles Darwin lived in England, who contributed to the development of science and created his own theory of the origin of the world, which every schoolchild knows about.
Many great naturalists adhered to the version of Darwin, which was that living organisms change over time, adapting to certain living conditions. But not everyone can adapt, and the strongest survives, who, moreover, is able to pass on his best qualities to the descendants.
Russian scientists
In different years, great scientists were in Russia, and many are aware of their merits and discoveries.
Genetic scientist Nikolai Vavilov made a huge contribution to the study of cultivated plants. He collected the largest collection of seeds, which totaled about 250 thousand samples, determined their place of origin, and also developed a theory of plant immunity.
A big contribution to the field of immunology was made by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, studying the human body and how he fights with various viruses. The works were devoted to the study of cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, as well as syphilis, attempts to understand the origin and find ways to fight. He artificially caused syphilis in a monkey and described it in his writings. Only for these achievements can it be attributed to the category of "great natural scientists." Biology was the main science for him: he created a theory about the origin of multicellular organisms, during the derivation of which he devoted a lot of time to studying the aging process, and believed that old age comes prematurely due to self-poisoning of the body by various microbes and poisons.