Fernando Ferrari-Pérez

Who was Fernando Ferrari-Pérez?

Fernando Ferrari-Pérez was appointed head of the Mexican Geographical and Exploring Commission in the early 1880s, with a commission to catalogue the native mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, and plants of Mexico. He was the author of the Catalogue of Animals collected by the Geographical and Exploring commission of the Republic of Mexico. In addition to the above quotation's content, oral tradition holds that Ferrari-Pérez was carrying with him a belt with gold dust hidden in the lining; it was supposed to be used for various payments during the exhibition. Ferrari-Pérez managed to save himself swimming up to shore and taking the belt with him and declaring its contents afterwards. The event was transmitted in time as an 'act of honesty".

Outside of Mexico, Ferrari's work is known especially in the Natural Sciences milieu, and while it is true that his professional activities focused mainly around the sciences, he also dedicated an important part of his life to other activities.

His professional authoritativeness led the government of the time to ask his participation in international diplomacy, both in the promotion of economic relations in the Americas and in Mexico's particular interest to open economic and political links with Europe; thus he was awarded by the French Republic the medal of "Knight of the Legion of Honour" in 1901.