Pierre André Pourret
Encyclopedia
Pierre André Pourret was a French
abbot
and botanist who did work in France
and Spain
. He described and collected large amounts of plant species, especially from the Mediterranean. He amassed many species in his botanical garden
and herbarium
for his research. Pourret was also a pioneer user of binomial nomenclature
, first developed by Carl Linnaeus.
. His given parish, however, was Saint-Jacob in Provence
. He sent manuscripts of documented research to the Académie des sciences, inscriptions et belles-lettres de Toulouse.
During the French Revolution
in 1789, Pourret was exiled to Spain. He did botanical work in Barcelona, Madrid, and ultimately the city of Ourense
in Galicia
. Due to xenophobia to the French during Napoleon's invasion of Spain, an angry mob drove Pourret out of his herbarium, burning many of his resources in the process. He lived an obscure life in Santiago de Compostela
until his death in 1818.
, donated by the University of Santiago de Compostela
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and botanist who did work in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He described and collected large amounts of plant species, especially from the Mediterranean. He amassed many species in his 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...
and herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
for his research. Pourret was also a pioneer user of binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
, first developed by Carl Linnaeus.
Career
Pierre André Pourret was a clergyman, but started his botanical career earlier, working in the regions around his hometown, NarbonneNarbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
. His given parish, however, was Saint-Jacob in Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
. He sent manuscripts of documented research to the Académie des sciences, inscriptions et belles-lettres de Toulouse.
During the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in 1789, Pourret was exiled to Spain. He did botanical work in Barcelona, Madrid, and ultimately the city of Ourense
Ourense
Ourense is a city in northwestern Spain, the capital of the province of the same name in Galicia. Its population of 108,674 accounts for 30% of the population of the province and makes it the third largest city of Galicia.-Population:...
in Galicia
Galicia
-Geographic regions:* Galicia , an autonomous community in northwestern Spain** Gallaecia, a province of the Roman Empire** Kingdom of Galicia, a medieval kingdom**Nueva Galicia :*** Nueva Galicia, a region of New Spain, now in Mexico...
. Due to xenophobia to the French during Napoleon's invasion of Spain, an angry mob drove Pourret out of his herbarium, burning many of his resources in the process. He lived an obscure life in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
until his death in 1818.
Legacy
His botanical collection can be found in the School of Pharmacy at the Complutense University of MadridComplutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of...
, donated by the University of Santiago de Compostela
University of Santiago de Compostela
The Royal University of Santiago de Compostela - USC is a public university located in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. A second campus is located in Lugo, Galicia....
.
Publications
- Pourret, P.A.(1781), Itineraire pour les Pyrénées
- Pourret, P.A.(1783), Projet d'une histoire générale de la famille des Cistes
- Pourret, P.A.(1784), Chloris Narbonensis
- Pourret, P.A.,Memoire sur divers volcans ėteints de la Catalogne, Palassou, Pierre Bernard(1823), Nouveaux mémoires pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des Pyrénées et des pays adjacents, Pau: Vignancour.