José Longinos Martínez: un expedicionario, dos gabinetes de historia natural

Abstract

This article aims to disclose five texts published between 1790 and 1797 in Mexico, Madrid and Guatemala cities, about the establishment of natural history cabinets formed in the Viceroyalty of New Spain by the Spanish expeditionary Jose Longinos Martinez. The texts, which appear here in chronological order, narrate the various events that affected the opening of the New Spain and Guatemala cabinets, and account for contingencies occurred in either event. Its importance lies in that, by highlighting the work of Martinez as a naturalist, collector and precursor in the formation of cabinets of natural history in America, the literature shows how the European practice of collecting nature was popularized in New Spain after the arrival members of the Botanical Expedition and the execution of one of its missions: to collect and remit useful natural specimens to the Royal Cabinet of Natural History in Madrid. To display this story, the source analysis is done by observing the Longinus Martinez facet as a collector or, as the protagonist of important events in the history of American collecting. While his work as a naturalist and expedition is inherent to the above mentioned, it is placed in a secondary position in the debate raised here.

Keywords

• José Longinos Martínez
• Cabinets of Natural History
• Guatemala
• New Spain
• Botanical Expedition