Daniel Solander: a Linnaean disciple on HMS Endeavour

By Emily Osterloff

Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander published little in his lifetime. But through his botanic collections from his travels and a rigorous application of a revolutionary naming system, he laid important foundations in taxonomy for scientists today.

Born in Piteå, northern Sweden, naturalist Daniel Solander (1733-1782) is primarily remembered for his scientific contributions during James Cook's first voyage.

Solander was invited aboard the expedition by friend and fellow naturalist Joseph Banks. The pair spent their round-the-world travels aboard HMS Endeavour (also known as HM Bark Endeavour) collecting and classifying thousands of plant and animal specimens.

Revolutionising taxonomy

Daniel Solander's interest in the natural world was ignited when he enrolled at Sweden's Uppsala University in 1750. He initially studied law but abandoned the subject after becoming inspired by botany professor Carl Linnaeus, a scientist now referred to as the father of modern taxonomy.

Numerous discoveries of new plants and animals were being made at the time, increasing Western scientific knowledge. These finds were aided by Linnaeus's new binomial nomenclature, a system of scientific names composed of two grammatically Latin parts. This taxonomic practice is still in use today.

Solander learned and mastered Linnaeus's new naming system. Scientists elsewhere in the world were keen to apply it too, so in 1759 the professor sent his protégé to England as an emissary.

Although he initially intended to complete his doctorate at Uppsala, Solander never returned to Sweden. In 1762 he was appointed Assistant Librarian at the British Museum, cataloguing the natural history collections. These would become some of the founding collections of the Natural History Museum, over a century later. His work allowed him to further promote the Linnaean system.

Post-Endeavour, in 1773, Solander returned to the British Museum as Assistant Keeper. He continued to work with the collections until his death in 1782.

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