Michel Charles Durieu de Maisonneuve
Encyclopedia
Michel Charles Durieu de Maisonneuve (December 7, 1796 – February 20, 1878) was a French soldier and botanist who was a native of Saint-Eutrope-de-Born
in the department of Lot-et-Garonne
.
He studied at École Militaire de Brienne, and later at the military school of Saint-Cyr
, where he received the rank of sub-lieutenant. He entered military service in 1813, and would be associated with the French army until 1848. He participated in the Battle of Trocadero
at Cadiz
, and was involved in the 1843 Battle of Smala
against the forces of Abd-El-Kader (1808–1883).
In the mid-1820s Durieu de Maisonneuve developed an interest in natural history
and botany
by studying fresh water
algae
. He participated in the Morea expedition
to Greece with naturalist
Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent
(1778–1846), and in 1840-44 was a member of a committee for scientific exploration of Algeria. During his years in the military he also performed botanical excursions in France, Spain and northern Portugal.
Durieu de Maisonneuve studied cryptogam species wirh Bory de Saint-Vincent, Camille Montagne
(1784–1866), Joseph-Henri Léveillé
(1796–1870), and the brothers Charles
(1817–1884) and Louis René Tulasne
(1815–1885). He also performed research of spermatophytes with Ernest Cosson
(1819–1889), who was an authority of North African flora.
In 1858 he succeeded Jean François Laterrade
(1784–1858) as director of the botanical garden
at Bordeaux
, and from 1867 to 1877 was a professor of botany in Bordeaux.
Saint-Eutrope-de-Born
Saint-Eutrope-de-Born is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France.-References:*...
in the department of Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers.-History:Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
.
He studied at École Militaire de Brienne, and later at the military school of Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
, where he received the rank of sub-lieutenant. He entered military service in 1813, and would be associated with the French army until 1848. He participated in the Battle of Trocadero
Battle of Trocadero
The Battle of Trocadero, fought on 31 August 1823, was the only significant battle in the French invasion of Spain when French forces defeated the Spanish liberal forces and restored the absolute rule of King Ferdinand VII.-Prelude:...
at Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, and was involved in the 1843 Battle of Smala
Battle of Smala
The Battle of the Smala was fought in 1843 between France and Algerian resistance fighters during the French conquest of Algeria. The French, led by Henri d'Orléans, Duc d'Aumale, raided the encampment of Algerian resistance leader Abd al-Qadir on 16 May 1843, while al-Qadir was absent on a...
against the forces of Abd-El-Kader (1808–1883).
In the mid-1820s Durieu de Maisonneuve developed an interest in natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
by studying fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
. He participated in the Morea expedition
Morea expedition
The Morea expedition is the name given in France to the land intervention of the French Army in the Peloponnese, between 1828 and 1833, at the time of the Greek War of Independence....
to Greece with naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent
Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent
Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent was a French naturalist. He was born at Agen...
(1778–1846), and in 1840-44 was a member of a committee for scientific exploration of Algeria. During his years in the military he also performed botanical excursions in France, Spain and northern Portugal.
Durieu de Maisonneuve studied cryptogam species wirh Bory de Saint-Vincent, Camille Montagne
Camille Montagne
Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne was a French military physician and botanist who specialized in the fields of bryology and mycology. He was born in the commune of Vaudoy in the department of Seine-et-Marne....
(1784–1866), Joseph-Henri Léveillé
Joseph-Henri Léveillé
Joseph-Henri Léveillé was a French physician and mycologist who was a native of Crux-la-Ville, in the department of Nièvre....
(1796–1870), and the brothers Charles
Charles Tulasne
Charles Tulasne was a French physician and mycologist who was born in Langeais in the département of Indre-et-Loire. He received his medical doctorate in 1840 and practiced medicine in Paris until 1854. Afterwards he worked with his older brother Louis René Tulasne in the field of mycology...
(1817–1884) and Louis René Tulasne
Louis René Tulasne
Louis René Tulasne, aka Edmond Tulasne was a French botanist and mycologist who was born in Azay-le-Rideau. He originally studied law at Poitiers, but his interest later turned to botany. As a young man he accompanied botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire to South America to study the flora of Brazil...
(1815–1885). He also performed research of spermatophytes with Ernest Cosson
Ernest Cosson
Ernest Saint-Charles Cosson was a French botanist born in ParisHe is remembered for his studies of botanical species from North Africa, and during his career participated in eight trips to Algeria. With Jacques Nicolas Ernest Germain de Saint-Pierre , he published the influential Atlas de la Flore...
(1819–1889), who was an authority of North African flora.
In 1858 he succeeded Jean François Laterrade
Jean François Laterrade
Jean François Laterrade was a French botanist who was a native of Bordeaux. He was a founding member of Linnean Society of Bordeaux, and was director of the botanical garden at Bordeaux....
(1784–1858) as director of the botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, and from 1867 to 1877 was a professor of botany in Bordeaux.