Lars Levi Laestadius

Swedish preacher and botanist

The Swedish preacher and botanist Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861) bridged the gap between faith and science. The clergyman Laestadius was the founder of Laestadianism, an extremely pious form of Lutheranism and one of Scandinavia's most eminent botanists.

University

Lars Levi Laestadius had an extremely though childhood. His father was an alcoholic who tried his hands at making a living in the silver mines in the Nasa mountains. In 1808, after his father lost his job, the family moved in to Lars Levi's half-brother Carl Erik. Carl was a keen amateur botanist and stimulated Lars's interests in plants.
In 1819 Lars Levi Laestadius entered university examinations. He began a botanical study tour which took him to the coast of Helgoland in Norway. A report of this tour was printed in book form.

Recognition and status

This report won Lars Levi Laestadiussuch recognition and status that the Swedish Academy of Science and Letters decided to finance his later field trips.
In 1827 he married Brita Katarina Alstadius. They were blessed with fifteen children.

Remarkable plants

Lars Levi Laestadius discovered two of Norway's most remarkable plants: The lifelong saxifrage (saxifraga paniculata) and Laestadius' poppy (papaver laestadianum). His other important botanical heritage was a herbarium, containing 6,500 plants. This was purchased by the Swedish Academy of Science and Letters after his death in 1861.
As a revivalist preacher and clergyman, Lars Levi Laestadius spoke out very strongly against the evils of drinking, theft and fornication.