Pierre André Latreille
A priest-turned-zoologist who brought order to the chaotic world of insects, coining the term 'crustacean' and saving himself from prison with a beetle.
1762–1833 (age 71)·French zoologist·Birthday: November 29
Biography
Pierre André Latreille's life is a tale of salvation through meticulous observation. Trained for the priesthood, his true vocation was always the teeming world of small creatures. The French Revolution upended his life, landing him in a Bordeaux prison under threat of deportation. His scientific acuity became his lifeline: when he spotted a rare beetle, Necrobia ruficollis, crawling in his cell, he alerted a visiting doctor and naturalist. The identification was so impressive it secured his release. From there, Latreille devoted himself entirely to zoology, becoming a master systematizer in an age of chaotic discovery. He published definitive works on insects and arthropods, establishing classifications that brought clarity to the field. His most lasting contribution was recognizing a distinct group of aquatic arthropods, for which he coined the name 'Crustacea'. Working at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, he became the essential bridge between the era of Linnaeus and the great 19th-century entomologists.
#1 When Pierre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1762
Pierre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1762Born
1767Started school
1775Became a teenager
1778Could drive
1780Could vote
1783Turned 21
1792Turned 30
1802Turned 40
1812Turned 50
1822Turned 60
1832Turned 70
1833Died at 71
Key Achievements
- Authored 'Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des crustacés et des insectes', a multi-volume foundational work in entomology.
- First proposed the class 'Crustacea' as a distinct taxonomic group, separating crabs and lobsters from other arthropods.
- Served as president of the Entomological Society of France and held the chair of zoology for arthropods and worms at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle.
Did You Know?
He was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror and secured his freedom by correctly identifying a rare beetle found in his prison cell.
Despite being an ordained priest, he never practiced and pursued natural history from a young age.
He was a protégé of the great naturalist Georges Cuvier, who secured him his position at the museum in Paris.
“I owe my life to a beetle I recognized in prison.”
