Joannes Antonius Scopoli

The Founder of Modern Natural Science in Slovenia

In 2023, 300 years will pass since the birth of the naturalist Joannes Antonius Scopoli (1723-1788). Between 1754 and 1769, he worked as the first doctor for miners in Idrija. Besides studying the diseases and social conditions associated with the mining profession, he devoted much of his time to exploring the environment of Carniola. He produced catalogues of plants, fungi and animals and published works that propelled Carniola (and thus Slovenia) into the ranks of global scientific superpowers. He named new species in accordance with the principles that are still observed in modern natural sciences. He was a true polymath, studying such diverse fields as mineralogy and paleontology, agronomy, veterinary medicine, medicine, pharmacy, chemistry and forestry.

Joannes Antonius Scopoli was born on June 13, 1723 in Cavalese in South Tyrol. He first attended school there, but later continued his education in the towns of Trent and Hall near Innsbruck. He studied medicine in Innsbruck and graduated in 1743 with a thesis On the Diet of Intellectuals. After graduation, he served his apprenticeship at local hospitals in Cavalese, Trent and Venice. In the following couple of years, he found employment as the personal secretary of the bishop of Seckau, Leopold Ernst von Firmian, while preparing for the medical exam in Vienna, which would grant him the state licence for general medicine practice. In 1754 protomedic Gerard van Swieten sent him to Idrija to take up the newly established position of miners’ doctor. He found his situation there quite untenable and quickly fell into dispute with the mine administration. His troubles culminated in 1763, when he asked the empress Maria Theresa for a transfer, but since she wanted to keep him in Idrija, she offered him the position of professor at the newly established mining school, where he could teach chemistry and mineralogy. Scopoli stayed until in 1769 he obtained the position of mining councilor and professor of mineralogy and metallurgy at the mining academy in Banská Štiavnica. In 1776, he was offered the position of professor of chemistry and botany in Pavia, which he accepted. During his time in Pavia, he wrote textbooks for both subjects, maintained a mineralogical cabinet, as well as several collections of mollusca, and founded a botanical garden. He died on May 8, 1788.