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Philibert CommersonFrench botanist and naturalist.
Date of Birth: 18.11.1727
Country:  France |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Philibert Commerson was born in France in 1727. He studied medicine at the University of Montpellier and practiced medicine for a short time before embarking on a career in botany and natural history.
Botanical Explorations
In 1756, Commerson established a botanical garden in Châtillon. He conducted extensive studies on Mediterranean fishes, which he corresponded about with renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus.
Voyage with Bougainville
In 1766, Commerson joined Louis Antoine de Bougainville's expedition that circumnavigated the globe. He traveled to Africa, South America, and Oceania, where he discovered and described over 160 new plant species and families. The specimens he collected formed the basis of the collections in the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
Expedition and Legacy
Upon the return of Bougainville's expedition, Commerson chose to remain in Madagascar to study the island's flora. However, he died tragically during a journey to Mauritius.
In recognition of his contributions, a species of dolphin, Cephalorhynchus commersoni, has been named after him. The animal was first observed by Commerson during the Bougainville expedition in the Strait of Magellan.
