JOSÉ CELESTINO MUTIS: BIOGRAPHY, WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

José Celestino Mutis y Bosio (1732-1808) was a Spanish priest, physician, botanist, mathematician, teacher, and geographer. His life was spent largely in the old Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, which is now known as Bogotá. His stay in America was synonymous with scientific and botanical knowledge and advances.

Although Mutis came to the New World as the general practitioner of Viceroy Pedro Messía de la Cerda, he quickly became interested in the study of the plant species that he found in that territory. Due to this, the teacher asked Carlos III - the king of Spain at that time - for authorization for a botanical expedition.

Portrait of José Celestino Mutis. Source: Oil painting by R. Cristobal, canvas 122 x 92.6 cm, via Wikimedia Commons

The work of the Spanish priest in the American territory was forceful. He left his mark in the areas of health, mining, botany and even grammar. The work of José Celestino Mutis continues in force through his various contributions, especially those related to the classification of Colombian flora.

Biography

- Birth and family

José Celestino was born on April 6, 1732 in Cádiz, Spain. Data on his personal and family life are scarce. It is known that he received the sacrament of baptism on April 16, 1732 and that he lived his childhood and youth in his hometown under the customs of the old Spanish Empire.

- Studies

Mutis attended his first years of educational training in institutions of the Society of Jesus in his native Cádiz. She then decided to study medicine at the Royal College of Surgery, and there she learned about chemistry, anatomy, physics and surgery.

As it was instituted at that time, José Celestino needed to be instructed in philosophy and art in order to qualify for the title of doctor. In search of his goal, the young man enrolled at the University of Seville to meet the requirement, because in Cádiz they did not impart that knowledge.

After completing his training in philosophy and art in 1753, the teacher continued his medical career and graduated on May 2, 1757.

- First tasks

The nascent doctor returned to Cádiz and began his professional work at the main hospital in the town. Then he got a job at the Madrid General Hospital to teach anatomy classes. At that time his interest in botany and astronomy arose.

- More knowledge

Mutis's interest in botany and astronomy led him to acquire new knowledge. At that time he began studying at the Soto de Migas Calientes Botanical Garden where he had Miguel Barnades, Domingo Castillejo and José Quer y Martínez as mentors.

In relation to his studies on astronomy, his main teacher was Jorge Juan de Santacilia. José Celestino supplemented his preparation with learning mathematics. In 1760 he was offered a scholarship to further studies in Paris, but he did not accept it. The rejection was due to the fact that he had already considered traveling to the New World.

- Mutis heading to America

Mutis was presented with the opportunity to travel to America, specifically to the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada (made up of Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama) as a doctor to Viceroy Pedro Messía de la Cerda. His knowledge of that territory excited him to carry out research in the field of science and botany.

Samples of fauna and flora of the Spanish America of Mutis in the Pavilion of Navigation of Seville. Source: CarlosVdeHabsburgo, via Wikimedia Commons

The doctor left for the New Continent on September 7, 1760, on a sea voyage that lasted five months. José Celestino set foot on the soil of Santa Fe de Bogotá on February 24, 1761 and was impressed with the variety of animals and plants that inhabited that land, as well as with the social, educational and cultural context.

- Initiator of modern science

Mutis quickly realized that the educational system that was taught in the universities was subject to the norms of the religious orders and that it was little advanced. So she set out to make known the modern elements of science and education to which she had had access.

The doctor carried out his approach through a speech he gave at the Colegio Mayor del Rosario on March 13, 1762, when the mathematics course was opened.

José Celestino Mutis offered information on research about practical and real processes that are fully applicable to day to day. The teacher also explained the advances of modern science and culture and presented the theories of Copernicus.

- The objective of Mutis

The purpose of José Celestino Mutis was to carry out a radical change in the culture and thought of the inhabitants of New Granada. He wanted to put them in contact with the mathematical and physical changes and that they would move away from religious ideas so that they would enter the field of science with a defiant attitude.

The task was not easy because the religious orders that reigned in the 18th century opposed the ideas of Mutis. He caused such a stir with his teachings that he had to appear before the tribunal of the Holy Inquisition to defend his ideas and the advantages of the knowledge he imparted.

- Proposal for a botanical expedition

In 1763 and 1764, the physician's passion for botany motivated him to request permission and patronage from King Carlos III of Spain to undertake an expeditionary tour of New Granada. However, José Celestino had to wait for two decades for its approval.

While waiting for a response, Mutis began generating resources for his research on his own. He continued to practice medicine, taught mathematics, and invested in the mining industry. Despite his years of dedication to mining, the results were not good, although his role was key to the progress of this area.

- The answer came

Mutis's wait was perhaps made less long because he was kept busy. In 1772 he received a priesthood, investigated the plant called cinchona and frequently wrote to the Swedish researcher Carlos Linnaeus. Finally, in 1783 the Royal Botanical Expedition of the New Kingdom of Granada was approved.

The activities of the company began on April 1, 1783 and José Celestino was at the helm. The other members of the team were: the cartoonist Antonio García, Eloy Valenzuela as administrative personnel and as herbalists the peasant Roque Gutiérrez and the indigenous Luis Esteban. Mutis' annual payment was two thousand pesos.

- The Royal Botanical Expedition of Nueva Granada

In the beginning, the doctor's expedition settled in the area known as Mesa de Juan Díaz, and seven months later it was moved to the Mariquita region. She stayed there until 1791 and in that year she was transferred to Santa Fe de Bogotá on the orders of Viceroy José Ezpeleta to closely monitor her.

goals

The objective of the expedition was not only botanical, since Mutis and the other members were interested in mineral resources. Over the years, the company had more members, which made research and sample collection tasks easier. Figures such as: Fray Diego de García and Francisco José de Caldas stood out.

Territories covered

The exploratory and investigative activities covered a good part of the territory of Nueva Granada. The most visited areas were: Alto Valle de Magdalena, Honda, Guaduas, Bucaramanga and Santander. Each commissioner efficiently carried out the work of collecting the plant samples for the creation of a detailed herbarium.

Fundamental task

The Royal Botanical Expedition of Nueva Granada had as a fundamental task for its field delegates to reproduce with paint and accurately the plants found. Another essential task was that Mutis himself had to send seeds and plants to Spain to expand the content of the Botanical Garden of the Court and the Cabinet of Natural History.

Cultural and social value

The botanical expedition led by José Celestino Mutis had cultural and social importance because its members were in permanent contact with the populations. So they had to inform the monarchy about the problems they perceived in order to provide solutions.

Expedition results

The thirty years of operation of the botanical expedition company yielded the representation of more than two thousand six hundred spices and twenty-six varieties. The sample was captured in a series of more than five thousand pages and some of the plants were painted in color.

Although the Royal Botanical Expedition of Nueva Granada was one of the largest that was carried out in the American territory, its results were scarce. This may have been due to the fact that many of its members separated from the objectives to satisfy personal and political interests. Mutis did not complete the writing of La flora de Bogotá.

- Last years and death

Mutis statue in the botanical garden of Bogotá. Source: Philipp Weigell, via Wikimedia Commons

Mutis spent his last years dedicated to botanical research, medicine and the trade of some natural species from Colombia to Europe. He also focused on writing, but did not complete many of his texts. José Celestino died on September 11, 1808 in Bogotá at the age of 76, due to a stroke.

Plays

- Mutisia. It was introduced by the son of his friend Carlos Linneo to honor him.

- Pheidole mutisi. It was a kind of ant.

Eponyms or places that bear his name

- José Celestino Mutis Airport in the Department of Chocó in Colombia.

- José Celestino Mutis Municipal Library in Cádiz, Spain.

- José Celestino Mutis Avenue in Bogotá.

- Celestino Mutis Street in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

- José Celestino Mutis School in Cauca, Colombia.

- José Celestino Mutis Street in Cádiz, Spain.

- José Celestino Mutis School in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

- José Celestino Mutis Park in Seville, Spain.

- José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden in Bogotá, Colombia.

- José Celestino Mutis Park in Cádiz.

- José Celestino Mutis Residence Hall in Bogotá.

- José Celestino Mutis Botanical Park in Palos de la Frontera, Spain.

- José Celestino Mutis School in Ocaña, Colombia.

References

1. José Celestino Mutis. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Ortiz, L. (2018). José Celestino Mutis, a forerunner of ecology and astronomy. Colombia: Latin American Episcopal Council. Recovered from: celam.org.
3. José Celestino Mutis. (2017). Colombia: Banrepcultural. Recovered from: encyclopedia.banrepcultural.org.
4. Tamaro, E. (2019). José Celestino Mutis. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
5. José Celestino Mutis. (S. f.). Cuba: EcuRed. Recovered from: ecured.cu.