Pehr Kalm
Who was Pehr Kalm?
Swedish scientist and priest (1716-1779)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Pehr Kalm (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Pehr Kalm was born on March 6, 1716, in Ångermanland, Sweden, and became a leading naturalist and botanical explorer of the eighteenth century. He studied at Uppsala University under Carl Linnaeus, who saw him as one of his best students. Kalm's education covered botany, natural history, and agricultural economics, preparing him for extensive field expeditions throughout his career. He was ordained as a priest while maintaining his dedication to science.
In 1747, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences sent Kalm to the British colonies in North America to collect seeds and plants that could be useful for Scandinavia's northern climate. He left for North America in 1748 and spent several years exploring areas like present-day Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and parts of Canada. During his travels, he met notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. His observations included not just plants and animals but also the customs, agriculture, and social conditions of the people he met.
One of Kalm's significant contributions from his North American trip was the first careful description of Niagara Falls, providing detailed measurements and observations that set his account apart from earlier reports. He also wrote the first scientific paper on the North American seventeen-year periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, establishing a foundation for American entomology. His extensive field notes and collections led Carl Linnaeus to name the genus Kalmia, which includes the mountain laurel, after him.
After returning to Europe, Kalm published his travel account in Swedish, and it was later translated into German, Dutch, and English, reaching many readers across the continent. The English translation of 1770 was influential, and a twentieth-century edition translated by Adolph B. Benson kept his work accessible to modern audiences. Kalm became a professor of natural history and economics at the Royal Academy of Turku in Finland, where he spent the rest of his career. In 1772, he received the Commander of the Order of Vasa for his contributions to science and Swedish cultural life. He passed away on November 16, 1779, in Turku, after dedicating his final years to teaching and advancing natural sciences in the Nordic region.
Before Fame
Pehr Kalm was born in Ångermanland, northern Sweden, in 1716, at a time when Linnaeus's work was changing European natural history. He started his studies at Uppsala University, then a top scientific institution in Europe, where he learned from Carl Linnaeus. Uppsala attracted students from all over Scandinavia because of its fresh approach to classifying nature, and Kalm was an especially dedicated student.
Before his well-known trip to North America, Kalm made a preparatory journey to Ukraine and Russia for the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to collect plants and check out agricultural conditions. This earlier experience honed his observation skills and showed his reliability as a scientific collector, so he was the obvious choice when the Academy needed someone to study the plant resources of the North American colonies.
Key Achievements
- Conducted a landmark botanical and natural history expedition through the British North American colonies between 1748 and 1751, collecting specimens for Swedish agriculture
- Produced the first scientifically systematic description of Niagara Falls
- Published the first scientific paper on the North American seventeen-year periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim
- Had the genus Kalmia, including mountain laurel, named in his honor by Carl Linnaeus
- Awarded Commander of the Order of Vasa in 1772 for his contributions to science
Did You Know?
- 01.The flowering shrub genus Kalmia, which includes mountain laurel and sheep laurel, was named after Pehr Kalm by his mentor Carl Linnaeus as a direct tribute to his North American plant collections.
- 02.During his North American travels, Kalm met Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia and the two corresponded; Franklin later facilitated some of Kalm's introductions to colonial naturalists and officials.
- 03.Kalm's description of Niagara Falls, written after his visit in 1750, is considered the first account of the falls composed by a formally trained scientist, providing systematic observations rather than mere wonder.
- 04.He published the first scientific paper specifically describing the North American seventeen-year periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, contributing foundational knowledge to American entomology.
- 05.Kalm's Swedish travel journal was translated into English as early as 1770 and a modern English edition edited by Adolph B. Benson remained in print well into the twentieth century, indicating the sustained historical value of his observations.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Commander of the Order of Vasa | 1772 | — |