Paul Pelseneer
Encyclopedia
Jean Paul Louis Pelseneer (Brussels
, 26 June 1863 – Brussels, 5 May 1945) was a Belgian malacologist, morphologist
, ethologist
and phylogenist.
In 1880, at the age of seventeen, Pelseneer became a member of the Belgian Malacological Society. He studied at the University of Brussels
and in 1884 he obtained his doctor's degree in natural sciences. He continued his studies with the French zoologist Alfred Mathieu Giard
at the marine laboratory in Wimereux
(Université Lille Nord de France
), and concluded his studies with the English invertebrate zoologist Ray Lankester
at University College London
. Pelseneer then became a teacher of chemistry at the Normal School in Ghent
. He devoted himself to zoology
during his spare time, without having a laboratory at his disposal.
Pelseneer became recognized in Belgium as well as abroad as one of the most eminent zoologists of his time, but he never obtained an appointment as university professor and thus was not able to transfer his knowledge to students. The only times he could use a marine laboratory were in his spare time when he went to Lille
and worked with Giard. His dissections were made using the most simple instruments, almost children's toys. He was given drawing lessons by the Belgian painter and sculptor Constantin Meunier
, so that he could illustrate his scientific papers himself.
In 1889, Pelseneer became a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, and became an ordinary member in 1903. He was removed from his teaching post in Ghent during the occupation by the Germans in World War I
(1914–1918). In 1919 he became the perpetual secretary of the Royal Academy, and stayed in this post until 1936.
In 1906 he received the degree of Doctor honoris causa
from the University of Leeds
. Pelseneer was elected Honorary Member of the Malacological Society of London in 1922. In 1934 he received the degree of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Brussels for his outstanding works on molluscs.
Although Pelseneer was primarily a malacologist, he was interested in all aspects of zoology. During his lifetime he described 43 new marine species, 31 of which were molluscs.
He studied material from the Challenger expedition
and from the Siboga Expedition
.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, 26 June 1863 – Brussels, 5 May 1945) was a Belgian malacologist, morphologist
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, ethologist
Ethology
Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, and a sub-topic of zoology....
and phylogenist.
In 1880, at the age of seventeen, Pelseneer became a member of the Belgian Malacological Society. He studied at the University of Brussels
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
and in 1884 he obtained his doctor's degree in natural sciences. He continued his studies with the French zoologist Alfred Mathieu Giard
Alfred Mathieu Giard
Alfred Mathieu Giard was a French zoologist born in Valenciennes on August 8, 1846. He was a professor at the Sorbonne, at École centrale de Lille and served as director of the marine laboratory in Wimereux ....
at the marine laboratory in Wimereux
Wimereux
Wimereux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Wimereux is a coastal town situated some north of Boulogne, at the junction of the D233 and the D940 roads, on the banks of the river Wimereux. The river Slack forms the northern boundary of...
(Université Lille Nord de France
Université Lille Nord de France
The University of Lille -Nord de France , located in Lille, France, is a center for higher education, academic research and doctoral studies located over multiple campuses in the Academie de Lille....
), and concluded his studies with the English invertebrate zoologist Ray Lankester
Ray Lankester
Sir E. Ray Lankester KCB, FRS was a British zoologist, born in London.An invertebrate zoologist and evolutionary biologist, he held chairs at University College London and Oxford University. He was the third Director of the Natural History Museum, and was awarded the Copley Medal of the Royal...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Pelseneer then became a teacher of chemistry at the Normal School in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. He devoted himself to zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
during his spare time, without having a laboratory at his disposal.
Pelseneer became recognized in Belgium as well as abroad as one of the most eminent zoologists of his time, but he never obtained an appointment as university professor and thus was not able to transfer his knowledge to students. The only times he could use a marine laboratory were in his spare time when he went to Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and worked with Giard. His dissections were made using the most simple instruments, almost children's toys. He was given drawing lessons by the Belgian painter and sculptor Constantin Meunier
Constantin Meunier
Constantin Meunier , Belgian painter and sculptor, was born in Etterbeek, Brussels.His first exhibit was a plaster sketch, "The Garland," shown at the Brussels Salon in 1851. Soon afterwards, on the advice of the painter Charles de Groux, he abandoned the chisel for the brush...
, so that he could illustrate his scientific papers himself.
In 1889, Pelseneer became a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, and became an ordinary member in 1903. He was removed from his teaching post in Ghent during the occupation by the Germans in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(1914–1918). In 1919 he became the perpetual secretary of the Royal Academy, and stayed in this post until 1936.
In 1906 he received the degree of Doctor honoris causa
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. Pelseneer was elected Honorary Member of the Malacological Society of London in 1922. In 1934 he received the degree of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Brussels for his outstanding works on molluscs.
Although Pelseneer was primarily a malacologist, he was interested in all aspects of zoology. During his lifetime he described 43 new marine species, 31 of which were molluscs.
He studied material from the Challenger expedition
Challenger expedition
The Challenger expedition of 1872–76 was a scientific exercise that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the mother vessel, HMS Challenger....
and from the Siboga Expedition
Siboga Expedition
The Siboga Expedition was a scientific Dutch zoological and hydrographical expedition to Indonesia from March 1899 to February 1900.The leader of the expedition was Max Carl Wilhelm Weber. Other members of the crew were his wife and algologist Anna Weber-van Bosse, the zoologist and first assistant...
.
Further reading
- Winckworth R. (1945). "Dr. P. Pelseneer". NatureNature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
156(3953): 136. doi:10.1038/156136a0. - Mayné M. R. et al. (1946). "[various tributes to] Paul Pelseneer". Annales du Société Royal Zoologique de Belgique 76: 37-63.
- Brien P. (1951). "Notice sur Paul Pelseneer, membre de l’Académie". Annuaire de l’Académie Royal de Belgique 117: 55 pp.
- Brien P. (1965). "La biologie marine dans l’oeuvre zoologique de Paul Pelseneer (1863-1945)". pages 275-289. In: Colloque international sur l’histoire de la biologie marine; Les grandes expéditions scientifiques et la création des laboratoires maritimes, Banyuls-sur-Mer, 2-6 septembre 1963. Vie et Milieu, Supplement 19, 370 pp.
- Duchamps R. (1995). "Paul Pelseneer (26 juin 1863 – 5 mai 1945). Il y a 50 ans!" Arion 20(2): 144-146.