Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1432/1486 (page 1414)
    eminent member of a family which has been called “ the Botanical Dynasty.” In 1765 he went to Paris to study medicine, and became the protegfe and pupil of his uncle, Bernard de Jussieu, who lectured on botany in the Tar- din du Roi, and was meditating a natural method of classification, near the close of a life memorable in the records of botanical science. This uncle, whose advanced age and dimness of sight indisposed him to the labours of authorship, freely communicated his mature reflections to young Jussieu, who zealously enlisted in the important enterprise. In 1770, having just graduated a3 M.D., he was appointed demonstrator of botany in the Jardin du Roi, as the substitute of Lemonnier, chief physician to the king. His first production was an excellent mono¬ graph on the “ Ranunculaceae,” (1774,) which opened to him the Academy of Sciences and determined him to apply himself almost exclusively to botany. In 1774 the arrangement of the plants in the Royal Garden, which was conformed to the system of Tourne- fort, was exchanged for one proposed by Jussieu, founded on natural affinities. While performing his duties as professor, he continued to digest and perfect his new system, until 1788, when he developed the same in his great Latin work, “ Genera Plantarum secundum Ordines naturales disposita,” “which,” says Cuvier, “forms in the sciences of observation an epoch perhaps as im¬ portant as the ‘ Chemistry’ of Lavoisier in the sciences of experiment.” Although the success of his book was retarded by the political convulsions of France, his philo¬ sophical system has gradually prevailed and superseded the artificial method of Linnaeus. The idea of such a system had occurred to other botanists; but Jussieu is entitled to the honour of laying its broad and impreg¬ nable foundations. In 1793 the school of the Royal Garden was reor¬ ganized, under the title of “ Museum of Natural His¬ tory,” and the chair of botany was given to Jussieu, who was also chosen director of the institution. A few years later he became a member of the Institute, and in 1808 was appointed a councillor of the Imperial University. At the restoration of the Bourbons he lost the office last named, but retained the professorship until 1826, when he resigned it in favour of his son. Between 1800 and 1820 he wrote many botanical treatises on natural orders and families, which were inserted in the records of the Institute or the “Annales du Museum.” These are characterized by the same merits as his principal work, —profound knowledge, patient observation, a correct estimate of the value of characters, and an admirable sagacity in perceiving affinities. Died in 1836. See Flourens, “ filoge de A. L. de Jussieu,” 1838 ; A. T. Brong- niart, “ Notice historique sur A. L. de Jussieu,” 1837; “ Nouvelle Biographie G^n^rale.” Jussieu, de, (Bernard,) a celebrated botanist, brother of Antoine, noticed above, was born at Lyons in 1699. After studying in his native city, he accompanied his brother on several scientific tours. On returning to France he entered the medical course at Montpellier, where he graduated in 1720. Six years later he was chosen Doctor of the Faculty of Medicine at Paris. He was the first to conceive the idea of the classification of {)lants according to their affinities. This method was per¬ fected by his nephew, the celebrated Antoine Laurent de Tussieu. He was held in high esteem by Louis XV., to whom he gave valuable advice upon the formation of the garden at Trianon. Jussieu visited England, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Died in 1777. See Condorcet, “filoge de Jussieu;” “Nouvelle Biographie G^n^rale.” Jussieu, de, (Joseph,) brother of Antoine and Bernard de Jussieu, was born in Lyons in 1704. In 1735 ac* companied, as a botanist, the French and Spanish savants who had been sent by their respective governments to Peru. He remained in that country and other parts of South America until 1771, and collected valuable infor¬ mation on natural history. Died at Paris in 1779. Jussieu, de, (Laurent Pierre,) a French moralist and writer, born at Lyons in 1792, was a brother of Alexis, noticed above. He wrote a number of popular educational works, among which are “ Simon de Nantua,” (1818,) and “Antoine et Maurice,” (1821.) His “ P it- humous Works of Simon de Nantua” (1829) obtained the Montyon prize. Died February 23, 1866. See Qu£rard, “ La France Littdraire.” Jussow, yoos'so, (Heinrich Christoph,) a German architect, born at Cassel in 1754. He designed a church at Neustadt, a wing of the royal palace of Wilhelmshohe, and the Chinese Gallery at Cassel. Died in 1825. See Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie.” Jussy, zhii'se', (Jacques Philippe,) a French phy- sician, born at Besan^on about 1716. He introduced a new and successful method of lithotomy. Died in 1798. Just, Saint See Saint-Just. Juste, zhiist, (Theodore,) a Belgian historian, born at Brussels in 1818. He published, besides other works in French, a “Popular History of Belgium,” (1838,) a “History of the Belgian Revolution of 1790,” (3 vols., 1846,) and a “ History of the Middle Ages,” (5 vols., 1848.) Died in 1888. Justel, zhiis'tSl', (Christophe,) a French Protestant statesman, and secretary to Henry IV., was born in Paris in 1580. He was distinguished for his knowledge of ecclesiastical history and of canon law, upon which he wrote several books. He also wrote some historical works, among which is a “History of the Family of Turenne,” (1645.) Died in 1649. See Sax, “Onomasticon;” Mor£ri, “Dicdounaire Historique;” Haag, “La France protestante.” Justel, (Henri,) a canonist, born in Paris in 1620, was a son of the preceding, whom he succeeded as secretary to the king. He collected an extensive library, especially rich in manuscripts, and was a liberal patron of literary men. For the sake of religious liberty he emigrated to England in 1681, and became librarian to Charles II. He published “Bibliotheca Juris Canonici veteris,” (2 vols., 1661.) Died in 1693. See Sax, “Onomasticon;” Haag, “La France protestante;” “Nouvelle Biographie G£n£rale.” Jus ten. See Juusten. Justi, ydos'tee, (Johann Heinrich Gottlieb,) a German writer on political economy and philosophy, born in Thuringia about the beginning of the eighteenth century. Among his numerous works are a “Treatise on Manufactures and Fabrics,” (3 vols., 1758-61,) and “Moral and Philosophical Writings,” (2 vols., 1760-61,) both in German. Died at Kiistrin in 1771. See Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie.” Jus'tin, [Lat. Justi'nus, or Justi'nus Fronti'nus,] a Latin historian of uncertain period, and of whose life nothing is known. He wrote a work entitled “ Histo- riarum Philippicarum Libri XLIV.,” which, as he informs the reader in his preface, is extracted or abridged from the History of the World written by Trogus Pompeius. As the original work is lost, Justin’s history, although it has no great intrinsic merit except an elegant style, supplies much valuable information not found in other histories. The most ancient writer that mentions Justin is Saint Jerome; and it is supposed that the former lived between 150 and 350 a.d. See D. W. Moller, “Disputatio de Justino,” 1684; Zembsch, “ Justinus Trogi Pompeii Epitomator,” 1804. Jus'tin or Justi'nus, surnamed the Martyr, one of the earliest and most learned of the Christian fathers, was bom of Greek parentage at Neapolis, in Palestine, about 103 a.d. He was educated in the pagan religion and in the philosophy of Plato. About 132 he embraced Christianity. He afterwards removed to Rome, where he wrote, in Greek, his first apology for the Christian religion. It was addressed to the emperor Antoninus, from whom Justin procured some concessions for the Christians. His other apology was addressed to Marcus Aurelius. He also wrote an account of his discussions with Trypho, a learned Jew, upon the Messiah. He suffered martyrdom at Rome under Marcus Aurelius, for refusing to sacrifice to the heathen gods, about 165 His writings are considered very valuable. See John Kaye, “Life of Justin Martyr,” London, 1836; Caril Sbmisch, “Justin der MSrtyrer,” 2 vols., 1840-42; Volkmar, “Ueber Justin den M&rtyrer,” etc., 1853; Junius, “Dissertatio de Justino Martyre,” 1836; Ritter, “ History of Christian Philoso¬ phy;” Eusebius,“Ecclesiastical Histoiy;” Nbander, “History of the Church;” Flbury, “ Histoire eccl^siastique.”