Carolus Linnaeus

Linnaeus, Carolus (Karl von Linné; 1707–78), Swedish botanist and physician, founder of taxonomy, the scientific classification of plants and animals. He presented his system of classification in 2 major works, Systema Naturae (1735) and Genera plantarum (1737). Although many of his particular classifications have been modified, the overall system is still in use.

See also: Botany.