Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation

Biographical Note

Chrétien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (1721–1794) was a French magistrat, botanist and agriculturalist mainly known for his nonscientific achievements: he was president of the Cour des Aides and director of the Librarie, a supporter of the philosphes and of reform under Turgot and a friend and advisor to Louis XVI. He held a lifelong interest in botany and agriculture and wrote several tracts concerning the promotion of agriculture in France. He was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1750. A defender of the king, he was guillotined on 22 April 1794.

Scope and Contents Note

This collection consists of an unpublished manuscript (138 pages), "Explication de quelques termes de botanique," concerning botanical terminology and classification and the historical development of botany. Pages 1–88 concern pre-Linnaean classification, particularly the work of Andrea Cesalpino (1519–1603), Robert Morison (1620–1683), John Ray (1627–1705) and Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656–1708). Pages 88–138 comprise a detailed discussion of the system of Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778).

Finding Aid

A finding aid for this collection is available online.

Other Resources

In the 19(2) Huntia, Sarah Benharrech translated and transcribed our Malesherbes manuscript.

For information about portraits of and biographical citations for the subject, see the Hunt Institute Archives Register of Botanical Biography and Iconography database.