Abraham Gagnebin de la Ferrière ( Renan , August 29, 1707 - April 23, 1800) was a Swiss physician and naturalist . He completed his medical studies at the University of Basel from 1721 to 1725. He then moved to La Ferrière . He divides his time between his art and his passion for science. He is both a surgeon , botanist, geologist , and meteorologist . He was in contact with the main scholars - Jussieu , Réaumur , Albrecht von Hallerand he devoted his time to botany, mineralogy, zoology. He meets Jean-Jacques Rousseau , exiled on the island of Saint-Pierre , in Bern ; on a botanical excursion at La Ferrière .
He wrote several books including a catalog of plants from the county of Neuchâtel and the Bishopric of Basel and contributed to various scientific publications. La Ferrière's house is a true museum. Sample of minerals , shells , insects , hair animals, seaweed and places of interest: an elephant tusk , a wolf jaw, a mummy fragment ...
The best object in the collection is a starfish found in Ferrière, the only specimen of its kind discovered in Europe , which bears the name of Ophiura gagnebin . At his death on April 23, 1800, Abraham Gagnebin had acquired a considerable reputation in science. The house where he lived all his life is still in Ferrière. A commemorative plaque commemorates the merits of the scientist and his brother, Daniel Gagnebin, who shared the same passion for natural sciences with him.
Work
- Natural history of insects and crustaceans. Manuskript 1733
- Very abridged catalog of natural curiosities which make up the Cabinet of the two brothers [Abraham and Daniel] Gagnebin, de la Ferriere en Erguël, bishopric of Basel in Switzerland, which can be negotiated in favor of lovers of natural history, and in which one will find abundantly enough to form a curious and considerable cabinet . 1768
- Description of a species of mountain myrrhis . In: Acta Helvetica . 3 (1758): 109–127
- Description of the large Campanula, with very broad leaves, & blue flower, with its varieties . In: Acta Helvetica . 4 (1760): 40–45
- Description of the starfish, or petrified lizard-tailed starfish, found in the Gagnebin Brothers Rarity Cabinet . In: Acta Helvetica . 7 (1772): 25–35
Honors
Eponymy
- (Polygalaceae) Polygala gagnebiniana Chodat[3]
- The abbreviation "Gagnebin" is used to indicate Abraham Gagnebin as an authority on the scientific description and classification of plants. [ 4 ]
