José Celestino Mutis

José Celestino Mutis was a Spanish botanist, mathematician, and medical doctor born in 1732. He is best known for leading the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Granada (modern Colombia), which aimed to study and catalog the region’s diverse plant life. His work significantly advanced knowledge of South American flora and contributed to fields like medicine and natural history. Mutis also helped establish scientific institutions and promoted education in Colombia. His meticulous observations and dedication laid important foundations for botany and scientific research in Latin America.