Michel Sarrazin
Encyclopedia
Michel Sarrazin was an early Canadian
scientist
and naturalist
.
Born in Nuits-sous-Beaune in the province of Burgundy, Sarrazin arrived in New France
in 1685. In 1686, he was made surgeon-major of the colonial regular troops and he continued in that position until 1692 when he was succeeded by Pierre Baudeau
. He had frequent professional contact with Michel Bertier
who was the surgeon-major of Quebec
and was also the surgeon for the Hôtel-Dieu
Sarrazin spent three years studying medicine. He was then introduced to botany by scientist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort . He spent almost thirty years collecting and observing plants and minerals. He was the first person to collect and catalog plant specimens systematically. Sarrazin also dissected animals and sent his tests to scientists in France. His herbarium of dried plants is said to contain about eight hundred species. He cared for the soldiers, fur traders, settlers, and native people for 50 years. Michel Sarrazin helped hundreds of troops recover from smallpox
, yellow fever
, and influenza
. His work was continued by Jean-Francois Gaultier.
Le Prix Michel-Sarrazin
was named for him.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and naturalist
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...
.
Born in Nuits-sous-Beaune in the province of Burgundy, Sarrazin arrived in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in 1685. In 1686, he was made surgeon-major of the colonial regular troops and he continued in that position until 1692 when he was succeeded by Pierre Baudeau
Pierre Baudeau
Pierre Baudeau was a surgeon-major in New France where he arrived in 1692, replacing Michel Sarrazin in that position.It is known from the writings of Governor Frontenac that Baudeau was highly regarded by him. He was active at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec during his service in New France.- External...
. He had frequent professional contact with Michel Bertier
Michel Bertier
Michel Bertier was the surgeon-major of Quebec and was surgeon to the Hôtel-Dieu there as well.Bertier had frequent professional contact with Michel Sarrazin who was surgeon-major of the colonial regular troops. They both attended at the death of Bishop Jean-Baptiste de La Croix de Chevrières de...
who was the surgeon-major of Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and was also the surgeon for the Hôtel-Dieu
Hôtel-Dieu de Québec
The Hotel-Dieu de Québec is a teaching hospital located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and affiliated with Université Laval's medical school. It is part of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec , a network of three teaching hospitals and several specialized institutions. Its areas of...
Sarrazin spent three years studying medicine. He was then introduced to botany by scientist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort . He spent almost thirty years collecting and observing plants and minerals. He was the first person to collect and catalog plant specimens systematically. Sarrazin also dissected animals and sent his tests to scientists in France. His herbarium of dried plants is said to contain about eight hundred species. He cared for the soldiers, fur traders, settlers, and native people for 50 years. Michel Sarrazin helped hundreds of troops recover from smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
, and influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. His work was continued by Jean-Francois Gaultier.
Le Prix Michel-Sarrazin
Prix Michel-Sarrazin
The Prix Michel-Sarrazin is awarded annually in the Canadian province of Quebec to a celebrated Québécois scientist who, by their dynamism and productivity, have contributed in an important way to the advancement of research biomedical. It is named in honour of Michel Sarrazin who was the first...
was named for him.