1. Olaus Rudbeck was a Swedish scientist and writer, professor of medicine at Uppsala University, and for several periods rector magnificus of the same university.
12 Facts About Olaus Rudbeck
1. 2.
Olaus Rudbeck was born in Vasteras, the son of Bishop Johannes Rudbeckius, who was personal chaplain to King Gustavus Adolphus, and the father of botanist Olof Rudbeck the Younger.
3.
Olaus Rudbeck established the first botanical garden in Sweden at Uppsala, called Rudbeck's Garden, but which was renamed a hundred years later for his son's student, the botanist Carl Linnaeus.
4.
Olaus Rudbeck was appointed professor of medicine at Uppsala University in 1660.
5.
Olaus Rudbeck's research led to the Queen's support of his career.
6.
Between 1679 and 1702, Olaus Rudbeck dedicated himself to contributions in historical-linguistics patriotism, writing a 3,000-page treatise in four volumes called Atlantica where he purported to prove that Sweden was Atlantis, the cradle of civilization, and Swedish the original language of Adam from which Latin and Hebrew had evolved.
7.
Olaus Rudbeck's work was criticized by several Scandinavian authors, including the Danish professor Ludvig Holberg, and the Swedish author and physician Andreas Kempe, both of whom wrote satires based on Rudbeck's writings.
8.
Olaus Rudbeck's work was later used by Denis Diderot in the article "Etymologie" in Encyclopedie as a cautionary example of deceptive linking of etymology with mythical history.
9.
Olaus Rudbeck was active in many scientific areas, including botany and astronomy, and left many traces still visible in the city of Uppsala today.
10.
Olaus Rudbeck aimed to produce a projected 12-volume encyclopedia of all known plants of the world called Campi elysii.
11.
Olaus Rudbeck himself directed the people of the city, shouting orders from a roof while his house burned down.
12.
Olaus Rudbeck died the same year, shortly after the fire, and was buried in Uppsala Cathedral at the transept.