Josif Pančić
| Josif Pančić | |
|---|---|
 Josif Pančić | |
| Born |
April 17, 1814 Ugrini, Austrian Empire (now Croatia) |
| Died |
February 25, 1888 (aged 73) Belgrade, Kingdom of Serbia (now Serbia) |
| Residence | Belgrade |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Fields | botany |
| Alma mater | University of Budapest |
| Known for | discovery of Serbian Spruce |
| Author abbreviation (botany) | Pančić |
Josif Pančić OSS (Serbian Cyrillic: Јосиф Панчић; April 17, 1814 – February 25, 1888) was a Serbian botanist, doctor, a famous lecturer at the Great School in Belgrade and the first president of the Serbian Royal Academy. Pančić is credited for discovering the new species of conifer – the Serbian Spruce.
Life
Origin and early life
Pančić was born as Josip Pančić[1][2] in Ugrini, near Crikvenica, Croatia (then Austrian Empire), the fourth son of Pavel Pančić and Margarita. He was a Croat by origin.[3][4]
After finishing elementary school in Gospić, he went on to the lyceum in Rijeka, and then continued classes in the Regia Academica Scientiarum in Zagreb (1830). He graduated in 1842 in Budapest in medicine. In addition to other courses, Pančić attended botany courses, taught by the then renowned botanist Sadler.[5]
Work
He was acquainted with the Serbian linguist Vuk Stefanović Karadžić in Vienna who wrote him a letter of recommendation to the Serbian authorities in order to fulfill his wish to settle in the Principality of Serbia and to study its nature. In May 1846 he arrived in Serbia, and worked as a physician in rural Serbia. He extensively documented the flora of Serbia, and is credited with having classified many species of plants which were unknown to the botanical community at that time. His most significant discovery was the Serbian Spruce, which he had discovered on the Tara in 1875. He fell in love with Kopaonik which he visited 16 times between 1851 and 1886. In 1853, he moved from Kragujevac to Belgrade when he was appointed professor of the Belgrade Lyceum.
Pančić was named the first president of the Serbian Royal Academy formed on April 5, 1887. He requested opening of the Botanical garden "Jevremovac" in Belgrade.
Pančić died on February 25, 1888 in Belgrade while working. A mausoleum of Josif Pančić on Kopaonik was erected in 1951 by the Academy, the University of Belgrade and the Hikers union, with the inscription:
Honoring Pančić's request, we moved him here to rest forever. We also announce his message for the Serbian youth: "Only with a thorough understanding and analysis of the nature of our country will they show how much they love and honour their homeland".
References
- ↑ http://www.physiology.org.rs/eng/home.htm
- ↑ http://www.explore-belgrade.com/meet-belgrade/belgraders-/belgrade-hall-of-fame
- ↑ Jovan Cvijić (1965). Autobiografija i drugi spisi. Srpski knjiž. zadruga. p. 360. "а првим председником наше Академије Јосиф Панчић, пореклом Хр- ват"
- ↑ Politika (2006). NIN: nedeljne informativne novine, Issues 2888-2896. "Они који би и даље да разбијају српски духовни простор, могу нас до миле воље подсећати да је Јосиф Панчић Хрват, али он се посрбио и његово целокупно науч- но дело и његов живот су везани за Србију."
- ↑ Life road of Josif Pancic
- ↑ "Author Query for 'Pančić'". International Plant Names Index.
Sources
- Michael Boro Petrovich, A history of modern Serbia, 1804–1918, Vol 2, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976, p. 352
- [http://www.sanu.ac.rs/Clanstvo/IstClan.aspx?arg=410, "Јосиф Панчић"] (in Serbian). Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
External links
- "Life road of Josif Pancic". Retrieved 2007-07-12.
- Feljton: Josif Pančić, Večernje Novosti, 27 February 2008 – 2 March 2008 (Serbian)
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