About
Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a French entomologist and naturalist, renowned for his meticulous observations of insects. Born into a peasant family, he was largely self-taught and earned degrees in mathematics, physics, and natural sciences. His magnum opus, the Souvenirs entomologiques (1879-1909), combines scientific rigor with literary prose. Dubbed the 'Homer of Insects' by Victor Hugo, he was praised by Charles Darwin as an 'inimitable observer'. He also isolated alizarin and wrote numerous educational works.
* 1823-12-21 — † 1915-10-11
Major works
- Souvenirs entomologiques (1879-1909)scientific memoirs
- Les Ravageurs (1870)educational book
- Les Auxiliaires (1873)educational book
- Les Merveilles de l'instinct chez les insectes (1913)essay
Key milestones
- 1866Isolated alizarin from madder and obtained a patent.
- 1879Purchased the Harmas in Sérignan-du-Comtat, where he conducted his main studies on insect behavior.
- 1910Received the Linné Gold Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Themes
observation of natureinsect behaviorinstinctscientific educationliterature and science
Sources: britannica.com · harmasjeanhenrifabre.fr