Berlandier, Jean Louis, -1851

Berlandier (1805-1851) was born in France and at a young age went to Geneva where he became an apprentice in a drug firm. He studied under the botanist Alphonse de Candolle; in 1826 he went to Mexico to collect plants under the sponsorship of de Candolle. Several published works based on this research appeared between 1832 and 1850. Berlandier also established himself as a pharmacist and doctor in Matamoros, Mexico.

From the description of Papers of Jean Louis Berlandier, 1825-1855 (inclusive), 1825-1831 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 40271871

Epithet: Member of the Frontier Commission of Mexico

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001243.0x0003e5

Jean Louis Berlandier, French botanist, trained under Cuvier in Paris and Auguste Pyrame De Candolle in Geneva, who sent him to Mexico in 1826 to collect botanical specimens. He joined the commission to survey the Mexican-United States boundary in 1827 and later settled in Matamoros, working as a doctor. During 1845-46 he ran the local hospitals and, after the American invasion, acted as interpreter for the United States forces.

From the description of Jean Louis Berlandier papers, 1813-1847, n.d. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702158014

From the guide to the Jean Louis Berlandier papers, 1813-1847, n.d, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Jean Louis Berlandier was born near Fort de l'Écluse, France, before 1805. While young, he moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and began to study botany under the tutelage of Augustin Pyrame de Candolle. In 1824, Berlandier left to collect specimens in Mexico, and in 1827 became a member of an officially sanctioned Boundary Commission charged with surveying flora and fauna along the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border. Berlandier remained in America after the commission's dissolution, and settled in Matamoros, Mexico. Though he married and worked primarily as a physician, Berlandier made several additional botanical journeys throughout the region, including an expedition to Goliad, Texas, with Rafael Chovell in 1834. During the Mexican-American War, Berlandier was placed in charge of hospitals at Matamoros. Berlandier died in 1851.

Rafael Chovell, a mineralogist, also participated in the Boundary Commission sent to survey the flora and fauna of the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border in 1827. In 1829, Chovell took charge of a garrison at Port Lavaca, as Mexico braced for conflict with Spain, but by the mid-1830s, he had moved to Goliad, Texas. In 1834, Chovell accompanied Jean Luis Berlandier on a several botanical expeditions throughout the region.

From the guide to the Berlandier and Chovell, Observaciones Astronomicas and Meteorologic Observations, 1832-1835, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)