Johannes Burman

Who was Johannes Burman?

Johannes Burman, was a Dutch botanist and physician. Burman specialized in plants from Ceylon, Amboina and Cape Colony. The name Pelargonium was introduced by Johannes Burman.

Johannes Burman was the eldest son of the theologian Frans Burman and his wife Elizabeth Thierens. His brother was the theologian Frans Burman. He started his studies in Leiden in 1722 under Herman Boerhaave, and qualified in 1728 as a doctor of medicine, after which he practiced in Amsterdam. After the death of Frederik Ruysch he was appointed Professor of Botany in Amsterdam. Johannes Burman was married to Adriana van Buuren. Their son Nicolaas Laurens Burman was also a botanist and studied under Linné in Uppsala.

Carl Linnaeus, in 1735 on a trip through Holland, was invited by Burman, carrying a letter of recommendation from Herman Boerhaave. Burman was impressed by the young man and offered him accommodation in his home on Keizersgracht. Linnaeus was employed by Burman almost six weeks to complete a flora of the plants of Ceylon.

Burman introduced Linnaeus to George Clifford III and Clifford showed them a fantastic book.