Carl Peter Thunberg | |
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| Born | 11 November 1743 Jönköping, Sweden |
| Died | 8 August 1828 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Other names |
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| Occupation | Naturalist |
| Scientific career | |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Thunb. |
Carl Peter Thunberg, also known as Karl Peter von Thunberg, Carl Pehr Thunberg, or Carl Per Thunberg (11 November 1743 – 8 August 1828), was a Swedish naturalist and an "apostle" of Carl Linnaeus. After studying under Linnaeus at Uppsala University, he spent seven years travelling in southern Italy and Asia, collecting and describing people and animals new to European science, and observing local cultures. He has been called "the father of South African botany", "pioneer of Occidental Medicine in Japan", and the "Japanese Linnaeus".