Carl Linnaeus

Revolutionized biological classification system

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) fundamentally transformed biological sciences by developing the binomial nomenclature system. His work Systema Naturae established standardized species naming conventions still used today.

As a professor at Uppsala University, Linnaeus mentored students who became renowned 'apostles' collecting specimens globally. His hierarchical classification model organized life into kingdoms, classes, orders, genera and species - creating the first comprehensive framework for studying biodiversity.

Beyond taxonomy, Linnaeus made breakthroughs in botany through floral sexual system classification. His expeditions through Lapland and Sweden documented previously unknown species. The Linnean Society preserves his original specimens and manuscripts as foundational scientific heritage.