Francisco José de Caldas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco José de Caldas (also known as "El Sabio Caldas" "Wise Caldas") (Born 1771 in Popayán, Colombia - Died 1816) was a Colombian naturalist and geographer.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Caldas began his studies in the city of Popayán in the Seminary of Popayán. He later studied in the Colegio del Rosario graduating in Law but was also passionate for mathematics, astronomy and natural sciences.
[edit] Expeditionary
Caldas was part of numerous scientific expeditions including the ones with José Celestino Mutis and Alexander von Humboldt. He travelled across the New Kingdom of Granada exploring the newfound land, studying flora, fauna, geography, meteorology and cartography. In 1805 Caldas was appointed by Mutis to direct the Astronomic Observatory.
[edit] Death
Caldas was captured by the Spanish royalists in 1816 and executed in the San Francisco Plaza by orders ofPablo Morillo, Count of Cartagena. When Caldas was about to be executed and the people present at the place appealed for the life of the scientist, Morillo responded: "Spain does not need wise people" (Spanish: "España no necesita sabios").[1] Before dying Caldas wrote on the wall a large Greek letter θ, which has been interpreted as exclaiming "Oh long and dark departure!" (Spanish: Oh negra y larga partida!).[citation needed]
His body was interred in Veracruz Church, which was later turned into the Panteón Nacional (National Pantheon) but later moved to the Panteón de los Próceres in his hometown, Popayan.
[edit] Legacy
Caldas help fund the New Kingdom of Granada Seminary intended to be a scientific institution during the first decade of the 1800s. In 1810 founded the Diario Político de Santa Fe Political Diary of Santa Fe which ultimately defended the independentist movement. During this time Caldas became engineer's colonel designing an artillery aparatus for the revolutionaries.
[edit] Books
- "El estado de la geografía del virreinato con relación a la economía y al comercio" (1807)
- "El influjo del clima sobre los seres organizados" (1808)
- "La Memoria sobre la Nivelación de las Plantas del Ecuador, Historia de Nuestra Revolución, Educación de Menores, Importancia del Cultivo de la Cochinilla y Chinchografía y Geografía de los Arboles de Quina".
[edit] References
- ^ Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas, Francisco José de Caldas (1771 - 1816), retrieved on May 1, 2007
