Cavanilles, Antonio Jose

Cavanilles, Antonio Jose a Spanish ecclesiastic, who devoted himself to botany, was born at Valencia, Jan. 16,1745. He was educated by the Jesuits, in the university of that town; became tutor to the sons of the duke of Infantado, whom he accompanied to Paris, and remained there twelve years. He was afterwards director, of the Royal Garden at Madrid. In 1789 and the following years he published Dissertations upon Monadelphous Plants, and in 1790 he commenced to issue his work on the plants of Spain, and those discovered by Spanish navigators in. Mexico, Peru, Chili, New Holland, and the Philippine Islands. He died at Madrid, in May, 1804. See Encyclop. Brit. 9th ed. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Générale, s.v.