Biography

Italian naturalist from Florence, best known for his scientific contribution as a cryptogamist. From the age of 15 Guiseppe Raddi was apprenticed to Attilio Zuccagni, Praefectus of the botanic garden of Florence. In 1795 he was employed as custodian of the natural history museum in Florence and published his first account of cryptogams in 1806, later reading his monographic account of the Jungermanniales to the Società Italiana di Scienze on 5 June 1817.

Under the patronage of Grand Duke Ferdinand III Raddi travelled to Brazil (1817-1818) to collect natural history material. Accompanying the naturalists Spix, Martius and Pohl, he had particular responsibility for cryptogams and made an important collection of pteridophytes, but also collected phanerogams and zoological material. On his return to Italy, he sent Brazilian specimens to Antonio Bertolini in 1819.

Raddi subsequently joined the Franco-Tuscan expedition to Egypt (1828-1829), led by the French archaeologist Jean François Champollion and the Italian archaeologist Ippolito Rosellini. He made extensive collections of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, molluscs and geological specimens but on his return journey contracted dysentry and died at Rhodes. The consuls of Sardinia and Austria on the island ensured that his collections were returned to Tuscany. The genus Raddia Bertol., based on his Brazilan collections of Poaceae, was named in honour of the Tuscan naturalist.

Biography

Italian naturalist from Florence, best known for his scientific contribution as a cryptogamist. From the age of 15 Guiseppe Raddi was apprenticed to Attilio Zuccagni, Praefectus of the botanic garden of Florence. In 1795 he was employed as custodian of the natural history museum in Florence and published his first account of cryptogams in 1806, later reading his monographic account of the Jungermanniales to the Società Italiana di Scienze on 5 June 1817.

Under the patronage of Grand Duke Ferdinand III Raddi travelled to Brazil (1817-1818) to collect natural history material. Accompanying the naturalists Spix, Martius and Pohl, he had particular responsibility for cryptogams and made an important collection of pteridophytes, but also collected phanerogams and zoological material. On his return to Italy, he sent Brazilian specimens to Antonio Bertolini in 1819.

Raddi subsequently joined the Franco-Tuscan expedition to Egypt (1828-1829), led by the French archaeologist Jean François Champollion and the Italian archaeologist Ippolito Rosellini. He made extensive collections of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, molluscs and geological specimens but on his return journey contracted dysentry and died at Rhodes. The consuls of Sardinia and Austria on the island ensured that his collections were returned to Tuscany. The genus Raddia Bertol., based on his Brazilan collections of Poaceae, was named in honour of the Tuscan naturalist.

Biography

Italian naturalist from Florence, best known for his scientific contribution as a cryptogamist. From the age of 15 Guiseppe Raddi was apprenticed to Attilio Zuccagni, Praefectus of the botanic garden of Florence. In 1795 he was employed as custodian of the natural history museum in Florence and published his first account of cryptogams in 1806, later reading his monographic account of the Jungermanniales to the Società Italiana di Scienze on 5 June 1817.

Under the patronage of Grand Duke Ferdinand III Raddi travelled to Brazil (1817-1818) to collect natural history material. Accompanying the naturalists Spix, Martius and Pohl, he had particular responsibility for cryptogams and made an important collection of pteridophytes, but also collected phanerogams and zoological material. On his return to Italy, he sent Brazilian specimens to Antonio Bertolini in 1819.

Raddi subsequently joined the Franco-Tuscan expedition to Egypt (1828-1829), led by the French archaeologist Jean François Champollion and the Italian archaeologist Ippolito Rosellini. He made extensive collections of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, molluscs and geological specimens but on his return journey contracted dysentry and died at Rhodes. The consuls of Sardinia and Austria on the island ensured that his collections were returned to Tuscany. The genus Raddia Bertol., based on his Brazilan collections of Poaceae, was named in honour of the Tuscan naturalist.