Candolle, Alphonse Louis Pierre Pyrame de (1806-1893)

Swiss botanist who developed a new classification system for plants based on a broad number of their morphological features. He worked extensively on the effects of climatic and other physical variables on the development of distinct species of flora, and published several books including Introduction à l'étude de la botanique 1835, Géographie botanique raisonnée 1855, and Historie des sciences et ses savants depuis deux siècles 1873.

Candolle was born in Geneva, the son of the eminent botanist Augustin Pyrame de Candolle. He graduated 1825 from Geneva University and, despite his love of botany, decided to study law, obtaining a doctorate 1829. However, he later returned to botany, working for his father until he was made director of the university's botanical gardens 1835. He replaced his father as professor of botany at Geneva University 1842.

He introduced postage stamps into Switzerland and was involved in public affairs throughout his lifetime.