Horace-Bénédict de Saussure

Its life

Influenced by his/her father and his maternal uncle, Charles Bonnet, it is devoted to the Botanique. In 1758, it met Albrecht von Haller. In 1762, it is named, at 22 years, professor of Philosophie to the academy of Geneva. With the autumn 1768, he becomes pupil of the Royal Society after a visit in Great Britain. In 1772, it founds in Geneva the Société for the Advance of Arts .

Its work

Its interest for botany naturally carried out it to undertake voyages in the the Alps, and as from 1773 it studies the Géologie and with the Physique of this area. The results of its work draw the attention of the Touriste S in the areas of Chamonix and Zermatt. In 1760 in order to calculate the Altitude Mont Blanc, it promises a strong reward with the first which will find the way and will reach the Sommet. It takes part itself in several attempts, in particular with Marc Theodore Bourrit by the route of the Aiguille of Tasting.

The August 8th 1786, two Chamoniard, Jacques Balmat and the doctor Michel Paccard while passing by the Grands Mules arrive finally at the top. The August 3rd 1787, accompanied by its manservant and of eighteen Guide S, Saussure is made lead to its turn at the top, where it makes assemble a tent before carrying out the calculation of altitude.

In 1788 it spends seventeen days to make observations on the peak of the Col of the Giant. In 1774 it assembles the Grammont, in 1778 it explores the Glacier of Valsorey, close to the Col of the Large-Saint-Bernard. In 1789 it visits the Pizzo Bianco (close to Macugnaga) and crosses for the first time the Col of Saint-Théodule to Zermatt. Making observations, it explores Theodulhorn. In 1780 it assembles the Michel Rock, above the collar of the Mount-Cenis.

Descriptions of seven of its Alpine voyages, and its scientific observations, are published in four volumes, under the title of Voyages in the Alps

It collected the most interesting plants, indicating in red in the margin, a number probably corresponding to its Herbier, noting with the pencil or the feather, of the further information, like the place and the date where he had found each plant.

In 1791, its health starts to decline, and it has financial problems, but it manages to complete its great work in 1796, before its death.

Publications

Systema plantarum secundum classes, process, genea, species, cum characteribus, differentis; nominibus trivialibus, synonimis selectis, and locis natilbus . Francfort-sur-le-Main, Varrentrapp Wire and Wenner, 1779

External bond

audio.com Literature: Integral reading of the “Voyage to the summit of Mont Blanc”, account by Saussure of its rise of Mont Blanc during the summer 1787.

See too

Street of Saussure

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