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A re-evaluation of the nineteenth-century naturalist Henri de Saussure

2013; Edinburgh University Press; Volume: 40; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3366/anh.2013.0177

1755-6260

Anita Hollier, John Hollier,

Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics

The nineteenth-century Swiss entomologist Henri de Saussure is probably better known today as the father of linguist Férdinand de Saussure than as a scientist in his own right. In this context, it is his personality rather than his work that has attracted attention, encouraged by the availability of letters and diaries in which he expresses himself openly on personal matters. This paper presents an overview of his life that includes analysis of his scientific contribution in order to give a more balanced assessment. Examination of his publications confirms his importance as a taxonomist, and shows interesting trends in his approach. He was also notable for his cultivation of a wide network of collaborators and for the way he used his status to enhance the collections of the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève.