Carolus Linnaeus was a Swedish scientist who laid the foundations for the modern system of binomial nomenclature. He was born in 1707 in the village of Råshult in Småland, Sweden. His work Systema Naturae established the basic taxonomic ranks of Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Linnaeus was also a pioneer in ecotourism, and was the first to document the Flora and Fauna of Lapland. He was a prolific writer, and his works include the landmark volumes Systema Naturae and Flora Lapponica. Linnaeus was a devout Christian, and believed that all life was created by God.
Linnaeus died in 1778 in Uppsala, Sweden. He is commemorated in the Linnaean Society of London, and in many species of plants and animals that bear his name. His legacy continues to this day in the work of taxonomists and ecologists around the world.
