Job Baster
Encyclopedia
Job Baster was a Dutch
physician and naturalist who devoted himself almost entirely to the study of medicine and natural history.
has thought his thesis, De Osteogenia, worthy of a place in his collection. Professors like Herman Boerhaave
trained him in scientific methods and he learned to how study natural phenomena. After his study he visited the hospitals and botanical gardens in Paris and London where he became friends with Philip Miller
and Hans Sloane
. Afterwards he settled as a physician in his native town Zierikzee.
In 1738 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in London on recommendation of Boerhaave and Willem 'sGravesande. Baster was a versatile scientst, in addition to his work as a physician he contributed papers about medicine, horticulture and marine biology to the Philosophical Transactions and the Verhandelingen der Hollandse Maatschappij der Wetenschappen. He also maintained a vast correspondence with leading biologists of his time. In Holland he was famous for his introduction of the goldfish
(Kin-Yu) and his translation of Philip Miller
's work on horticulture.
. Happily Baster continued to work on this beautifully illustrated book on marine fauna at the Dutch coast. He was the first author to describe and illustrate the medusas of hydropolyps and eggs and larvae of many molusc species. In 1765 he had to end his marine investigations, at the age of 53 he had become blind in his left eye.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
physician and naturalist who devoted himself almost entirely to the study of medicine and natural history.
Biography
He studied and took his degree of doctor of medicine at Leiden in 1731, and Albrecht von HallerAlbrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet.-Early life:He was born of an old Swiss family at Bern. Prevented by long-continued ill-health from taking part in boyish sports, he had the more opportunity for the development of his precocious mind...
has thought his thesis, De Osteogenia, worthy of a place in his collection. Professors like Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave was a Dutch botanist, humanist and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital. His main achievement was to demonstrate the relation of symptoms to lesions...
trained him in scientific methods and he learned to how study natural phenomena. After his study he visited the hospitals and botanical gardens in Paris and London where he became friends with Philip Miller
Philip Miller
Philip Miller FRS was a Scottish botanist.Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1722 until he was pressured to retire shortly before his death...
and Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, PRS was an Ulster-Scot physician and collector, notable for bequeathing his collection to the British nation which became the foundation of the British Museum...
. Afterwards he settled as a physician in his native town Zierikzee.
In 1738 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in London on recommendation of Boerhaave and Willem 'sGravesande. Baster was a versatile scientst, in addition to his work as a physician he contributed papers about medicine, horticulture and marine biology to the Philosophical Transactions and the Verhandelingen der Hollandse Maatschappij der Wetenschappen. He also maintained a vast correspondence with leading biologists of his time. In Holland he was famous for his introduction of the goldfish
Goldfish
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
(Kin-Yu) and his translation of Philip Miller
Philip Miller
Philip Miller FRS was a Scottish botanist.Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1722 until he was pressured to retire shortly before his death...
's work on horticulture.
Natuurlijke Uitspanningen
In 1759 he published his most famous multivolume book: Natuurlyke Uitspanningen behelzende eenige waarnemingen over sommige zee-planten en zee-insecten (Natural accounts about some observations of some marine plants and insects). In the first two volumes of this work he contributes to the discussion if organisms on the bottom of the sea were merely animals, plants or, as Carl Linnaeus thought, zoophytes (plant-animals). His theory about this subject was, not onrightfully, fiercely opposed by John Ellis (naturalist)John Ellis (naturalist)
John Ellis FRS was a British linen merchant and naturalist.Ellis specialised in the study of corals. He was elected a member of the Royal Society in 1754 and in the following year published An essay towards the Natural History of the Corallines. He was awarded the Copley Medal in 1767...
. Happily Baster continued to work on this beautifully illustrated book on marine fauna at the Dutch coast. He was the first author to describe and illustrate the medusas of hydropolyps and eggs and larvae of many molusc species. In 1765 he had to end his marine investigations, at the age of 53 he had become blind in his left eye.
External links
- Biography and bibliography (Dutch)
- Illustrations and species in Natuurlijke Uitspanningen www.coastsandreefs.net