Linné 2007 
Carolus Linnaeus Om Carl von Linné How Carolus Linnaeus became a professor
How Carolus Linnaeus became a professor
At the medieval university in Uppsala, founded in 1477, there was no faculty of medicine. On the other hand, after the University was re-constituted in 1595, it was possible to pursue medical studies there.But it was not until in the time of Gustavus Adolphus that two professorial chairs were instituted. They were called ’the first chair’ and ’the second chair.’ In 1692 the second chair was given the subject-area name of ’medicine and botany.’ It was held for nearly 60 years, up to 1740, by Olof Rudbeck, Jr., who—let us say—‘inherited’ it from his father, the great Olof Rudbeck, Sr. However, during his final decade he had been relieved of teaching in both medicine and botany. His duties were carried out during this period by the adjunct in medicine, Nils Rosén.
When the chair fell vacant after Rudbeck’s death in 1740, it went to Rosén, who was of course well acquainted with what the office required. He had originally studied at Lund, but, like Linnaeus, he had been granted his degree of doctor of medicine at Harderwyk, Holland. Rosén was one year older than Linnaeus. The tercentennial of his birth was celebrated in the late winter of 2006. He is considered to be the father of Swedish pediatry. He was made a nobleman in 1762 under the name of Rosén von Rosenstein. Linnaeus was one of those who applied for the chair, but he did not get the position that time.
But he was not to go without for long. In 1740 the holder of ’the first chair’ was persuaded to step down. His name was Lars Roberg, and he had occupied this office since the end of the 17th century. In the early 18th century he had founded Nosocomium academicum, what would later be called the ’Akademiska’ University Hospital. He died in 1742. On May 5, 1741, Linnaeus applied and was appointed to the chair by the king.
The two virtually coeval rivals, Rosén and Linnaeus, had thus each attained a professorship at Uppsala. They soon realized, however, that it would be better if they swapped chairs, so that Rosén would be in charge of teaching practical medicine, anatomy, pathology, etc.. Linnæus, in turn, would be responsible for botany and chemistry, among other subjects, and would be the director of the Botanical Garden. As early as November 1741 the two submitted their request for such a reallocation, and it was instituted in January 1742. Linnaeus retained his chair until his death in 1778. His colleague Rosén von Rosenstein had died in 1773, after a successful career in pediatry.
All that can be said here about the fate of Linnaeus’ chair is that, upon his death, it went to his son Carolus Linnaeus, Jr. and then to Carl Peter Thunberg, Elias Fries, and other prominent figures in botany. Its name has been changed many times and is called today physiological botany.
Last Updated Monday, 04 December 2006
Icy final of Linnaeus Tercentenary
The expansive Norrland region demonstrated curiosity, creativity and go, in true Linnaeus spirit, as guests and media from all over the world gathered last weekend at the Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel to celebrate the end of the Linnaeus Tercentenary. Mineral and ice, which have placed Norrbotten on the world map, was also the theme of the festivities.
Read more...Linnaeus descendant takes doctorate on last day of Linnaeus Tercentenary
This weekend the tercentenary celebrations of Carl Linnaeus’ birth will come to an end, and today his young descendent, Martin Nervall, will publicly defend his dissertation at Uppsala University. It deals with malaria, just as Linnaeus’ 1735 doctoral thesis did. Read more in the press release.Palaeontologists from all over the world gathered in Uppsala
As one of the very last events during the Linnaeus tercentenary, 250 palaeontologists from all over the world have come together in Uppsala for a conference on historic animals.
Read more...Christmas gift ideas
Special offer on Uppsala University’s Linnaeus articles
Read more...| Older news |