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Pehr KalmFinnish, Swedish, naturalist, traveler, professor
Date of Birth: 06.03.1716
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- Peter Kalm: A Renowned Finnish Naturalist and Professor
- Studies in Uppsala and Appointment at Turku Academy
- Swedish Expedition to North America
- Botanical Contributions
- Linnaeus's Legacy
- Recognition and Legacy
Peter Kalm: A Renowned Finnish Naturalist and Professor
Early Life and EducationPeter Kalm was born in Finland in 1716. In 1730, he began his education at the Vaasa school, and in 1735, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Turku, the only university in Finland at the time.
Studies in Uppsala and Appointment at Turku Academy
In 1740, Kalm moved to Uppsala University in Sweden, where he studied botany under the renowned naturalist Carl Linnaeus and astronomy under Anders Celsius. Upon his return to Finland, he was appointed Professor of Economics at the Royal Academy of Turku in 1747.
Swedish Expedition to North America
Kalm's appointment as Professor of Economics was partially due to his involvement in the planned Swedish expedition to North America. He embarked on the expedition in 1747, returning to Stockholm in 1751. His account of the expedition, published in three volumes (1753-1761) as "Travels into North America," brought him international fame.
Botanical Contributions
After his expedition, Kalm actively cultivated North American plants in Finland, introducing many species to Europe. He also wrote numerous academic dissertations on practical topics related to agriculture, forestry, and botany.
Linnaeus's Legacy
Carl Linnaeus honored Kalm by naming a genus of flowering shrubs (Kalmia) after him. Kalm also brought Kalmia angustifolia from North America and successfully cultivated it in Sweden. Indirectly, three other genera in the Ericaceae family were named in connection with Kalmia.
Recognition and Legacy
Kalm's contributions to natural history and exploration were recognized during his lifetime and beyond. He was known as one of Linnaeus's "apostles" and was honored with a commemorative coin issued by the Finnish Mint in 2011. Today, numerous plant species bear the epithet "kalmii," and his name remains synonymous with the study of North American flora.
