Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Space of One’s Own: Barbosa du Bocage, the Foundation of the National Museum of Lisbon, and the Construction of a Career in Zoology (1851–1907)

  • Published:
Journal of the History of Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper discusses the life and scientific work of José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (1823–1907), a nineteenth-century Portuguese naturalist who carved a new place for zoological research in Portugal and built up a prestigious scientific career by securing appropriate physical and institutional spaces to the discipline. Although he was appointed professor of zoology at the Lisbon Polytechnic School, an institution mainly devoted to the preparatory training of military officers and engineers, he succeeded in creating the conditions that allowed him to develop consistent research in zoology at this institution. Taking advantage of the reconstruction and further improvement of the building of the Lisbon Polytechnic, following a violent fire in 1843, Bocage transferred a natural history museum formerly located at the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon to his institution, where he conquered a more prestigious place for zoology. Although successive governments were unwilling to meet Bocage’s ambitions for the Zoological Section of the newly created National Museum of Lisbon, the collaborators he found in different parts of the Portuguese continental territory and colonial empire supplied him the specimens he needed to make a career as a naturalist. Bocage ultimately became a renowned specialist in Southwestern African fauna thanks to José de Anchieta, his finest collaborator. Travels to foreign museums, and the establishment of links with the international community of zoologists, proved fundamental to build up Bocage’s national and international scientific reputation, as it will be exemplified by the discussion of his discovery of Hyalonema, a specimen with a controversial identity collected off the Portuguese coast.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, D. E. 2009. “Amateurs and professionals.” Peter J. Bowler and John V. Pickstone (eds.), The Cambridge History of Science, 6. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp. 15–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade, A. A. B. 1989. O Naturalista José de Anchieta. Lisboa: Publicações Alfa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Annuario da Escola Polytechnica. Anno lectivo de 1908–1909, 1. 1909. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

  • Basalla, G. 1967. “The Spread of Western Science.” Science 156: 611–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bethencourt, F. and Chaudhuri, K. (eds.). 1998. História da Expansão Portuguesa, Vol. 4. Navarra: Círculo de Leitores.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1857. Memoria sobre a cabra-montez da serra do Gerez. Lisboa: Tipografia da Academia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1860. “Relatorio apresentado ao conselho da escola polytechnica pelo lente proprietario da 8.ª cadeira, ácerca das collecções scientificas recentemente adquiridas para o gabinete zoologico e museu de Lisboa, e de alguns outros resultados da sua viagem scientifica ao estrangeiro.” Diario de Lisboa 1: 3–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1862. Instrucções praticas sobre o modo de colligir, preparar e remetter productos zoologicos para o Museu de Lisboa. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1863. “Liste des Mammifères et Reptiles observés en Portugal.” Revue et Magasin de Zoologie 9: 329–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1864a. “Note sur un nouveau Batracien du Portugal, Chioglossa lusitanica, et sur un Grenouille nouvelle de l’Afrique occidentale.” Revue et Magasin de Zoologie 16: 248–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1864b. “Sur quelques Espèces inédites de Squalidae de la tribu Acanthiana, Gray, qui fréquentent les côtes du Portugal.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London III: 260–263.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1864c. “Notice sur un Batracien nouveau du Portugal (Chioglossa lusitanica, nob.).” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 264–265.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1864d. “Note sur la Découverte d’un Zoophyte de la famille Hyalochaetides sur la côte du Portugal.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London XXII: 265–269.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1865a. Relatorio ácerca da situação e necessidades da Secção Zoologica do Museu de Lisboa apresentado a sua excellencia o Ministro e Secretario d’Estado dos Negocios do Reino. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1865b. “Sur quelques Mammifères rares et peu connus, d’Afrique occidentale, qui se trouvent au Muséum de Lisbonne.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1865: 401–404.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1865c. “Sur l’Habitat du Hyalonema lusitanicum.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1865: 662–663.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1866. “Lista dos reptis das possessões portuguezas d’Africa occidental que existem no Museu de Lisboa.” Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 1: 37–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1867a. “Batraciens nouveaux de l’Afrique occidentale (Loanda et Benguella).” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 843–846.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1867b. “Descriptions of two new Saurians from Mossamedes.” Annals and Magazine of Natural History 117: 225–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1867c. “On Hyalonema lusitanicum.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 116: 123–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1869a. “Oiseaux nouveaux de l’Afrique oceidentale[sic].” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 436–437.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1869b. “Aves das possessões portuguezas d’Africa occidental.” Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 8: 333–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1870a. “Note sur une nouvelle espèce de Pélican.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 173.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1870b. “Note sur le jeune de l’année du Pelecanus sharpei.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 409.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1873a. “Observations sur le Bucorax de l’Afrique australe (Buceros carunculatus cafer, Schleg.).” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 698–703.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1873b. “Note sur l’Habitat de l’Euprepes coctei, Dum. et Bibr.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 703–704.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1874a. “Notice sur l’habitat et les caractères du Macroscincus Coctei (Euprepes Coctei, Duméril et Bibron).” Journal de Zoologie 1–16.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1874b. “Bibliographia. « Die Glanzstaare Afrika’s » , monographisch bearbeitet von Dr. G. Hartlaub.” Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 17: 61–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1877. Ornithologie d’Angola. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1878. “Liste des Antilopes d’Angola.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 741–745.

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1881. Ornithologie d’Angola. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1887. “Mélanges erpétologiques[sic].” Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 44: 177–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1889. “José Augusto de Sousa.” Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes 2: 145–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocage, J. V. B. 1895. Herpétologie d’Angola et du Congo. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonifácio, M. F. 2009. Uma História de Violência Política – Portugal de 1834 a 1851. Lisboa: Tribuna da História.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowerbank, J. S. 1866. “On Hyalonema mirabilis, in reply to Dr. Gray.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 107: 397–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowerbank, J .S. 1867a. “On Hyalonema mirabile.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 18–34.

  • Bowerbank, J. S. 1867b. “Additional observations on Hyalonema mirabile.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 350–351.

  • Bowerbank, J. S. 1867c. “On Hyalonema lusitanicum.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 901–907.

  • Bowler, P. J. 2009. Evolution: The History of an Idea, 4th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, R. 1981. A Actividade Pedagógica da Academia das Ciências de Lisboa nos Séculos XVIII e XIX. Lisboa: Academia das Ciências de Lisboa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, L. F., Lains, P. and Miranda, S. M. 2012. História Económica de Portugal 1143–2010. Lisboa: A Esfera dos Livros.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunha, P. J. 1937. A Escola Politécnica de Lisboa: breve notícia histórica. Lisboa: João Pinto, Lda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diario da Camara dos Senhores Deputados. Sessão legislativa de 1883. 1883. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

  • Dias, J. 1998. “Angola.” Valentim Alexandre and Jill Dias (eds.), Nova História da Expansão Portuguesa, Vol. 10. Lisboa: Estampa, pp. 321–453.

  • Diogo, M. P. and van Laak, D. (eds.). 2016. Europe Globalizing: Mapping, Exploiting, Exchanging. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenberg, C. G. 1867. “On Hyalonema lusitanicum and on the Animal or Vegetable Nature of Sponges.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 114: 419–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farber, P. L. 2000. Finding Order in Nature: The Naturalist Tradition from Linnaeus to E. O. Wilson. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felismino, D. 2015. Saberes, Natureza e Poder: Colecções científicas da antiga Casa Real portuguesa. Lisboa: Caleidoscópio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felismino, D., Tavares, C. and Carneiro, A. 2016. “The Power of Islands and of Discipleship: Francisco de Arruda Furtado (1854–1887) and the Making of a Disciple of Darwin.” History of Science 54: 138–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo, F. 2002. “Os vectores económico-financeiros.” A. H. de Oliveira Marques (ed.), Nova História de Portugal, Vol. 9. Lisboa: Presença, pp. 90–160.

  • Finnegan, D. A. 2008. “The Spatial Turn: Geographical Approaches in the History of Science.” Journal of the History of Biology 41: 369–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folin, M. 1887. Sous les mers: campagnes d’explorations du « Travailleur » et du « Talisman». Paris: Librairie de J.-B. Baillière et Fils.

    Google Scholar 

  • França, C. 1906a. “Sur une nouvelle espèce de glossine.” Jornal de Sciencias Physicas, Mathematicas e Naturaes 27: 134–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • França, C. 1906b. “Sobre as glossinas da Africa oriental existentes no Museu de Lisboa.” Jornal de Sciencias Physicas, Mathematicas e Naturaes 27: 137–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • França, C. 1908. “Le Professeur Barbosa du Bocage, 1823–1907; éloge historique.” Bulletin de la Société Portugaise des Sciences Naturelles 2: 141–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamito-Marques, D. 2015. O Ensino e a Investigação em Zoologia e em Botânica na Escola Politécnica de Lisboa (1837–1911).” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation.

  • Gamito-Marques, D. “Defending Metropolitan Identity Through Colonial Politics: The Role of Portuguese Naturalists (1870–1891).” History of Science, forthcoming.

  • Gavroglu, K., Patiniotis, M., Papaneloupoulou, F., Simões, A., Carneiro, A., Diogo, M. P., Sánchez, J. R. B., Belmar, A. G. and Nieto-Galan, A. 2008. “Science and Technology in the European Periphery: Some Historiographical Reflections.” History of Science 46: 1–23.

  • Gieryn, T.F. 2002. “Three Truth-Spots.” Journal of History of Behavioral Sciences 38(2): 113–132.

  • Gray, J. E. 1866a. “Note on the “Glass-Rope” Hyalonema.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 18: 287–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. E. 1866b. “Notes on Dr. Bowerbank’s Paper on Hyalonema.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 485–486.

  • Gray, J. E. 1867. “Notes on Hyalonema lusitanicum.” Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 117–125.

  • Gray, J. E. 1868. “On the Peculiar Structure and Function of the Spicules of Hyalonema.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4: 292–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. E. 1869. “On the Manner of Growth of Hyalonema.” Annals and Magazine of Natural History 15(4): 192–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, R. E. 2002. Landscapes and Labscapes: Exploring the Lab-Field Border in Biology. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kohlrausch, M. and Trischler, H. (eds.). 2014. Building Europe on Expertise: Innovators, Organizers, Networkers. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlstedt, S. G. and Longino, H. (eds.). 1997. Women, Gender, and Science. Osiris 12.

  • Latour, B. 1987. Science in Action. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Limoges, C. 1980. “The Development of the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris.” Robert Fox, George Weisz (eds.), The Organization of Science and Technology in France 1808–1914. Cambridge:Maison des Sciences de l’Homme and Cambridge University Press, pp. 211–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, D. 2003. Putting Science in Its Place. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lóven, S. L. 1868. “On a Remarkable Sponge from the North Sea.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2: 81–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod, R. 2000. “Introduction.” Osiris 15: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madruga, C. 2013. José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (1823–1907). A construção de uma persona científica. Unpublished M.A. dissertation.

  • Marques, A. H. O. 2002. “A conjuntura.” A. H. de Oliveira Marques (ed.), Nova História de Portugal, Vol. 9. Lisboa: Presença, pp. 544–619.

  • Marques, A. H. 2004. “A conjuntura.” Fernando de Sousa and A. H. de Oliveira Marques (eds.), Nova História de Portugal, Vol. 10. Lisboa: Presença, pp. 467–518.

  • Mendes, J. A. 1993. “Etapas e limites da industrialização.” Luís Reis Torgal and João Lourenço Roque (eds.), História de Portugal, Vol. 5. Lisboa: Estampa, pp. 355–367.

  • Mills, E. L. 1983. “Problems of Deep-Sea Biology: An Historical Perspective.” Gilbert T. Rowe (ed.), The Sea: Ideas and Observations on Progress in the Study of the Seas, Vol. 8. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, pp. 1–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milne-Edwards, A. 1861. “Observations sur l’existence de divers mollusques et zoophytes a des très grandes profondeurs dans la mer méditerranée.” Annales des Sciences Naturelles 15: 149–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mónica, M. F. (ed.). 2005a. Dicionário Biográfico Parlamentar – 1834–1910, Vol. 1. Lisboa: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais.

  • Mónica, M. F. (ed.). 2005b. Dicionário Biográfico Parlamentar – 1834–1910, Vol. 3. Lisboa: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais.

  • “Obituary. Professor Barboza du Bocage.” 1908. The Ibis 50(4): 611.

  • Osório, B. 1915. Elogio historico do illustre naturalista e professor J. V. Barboza du Bocage. Lisboa: Imprensa Libanio da Silva.

  • Piñero, J. M. L. 1992. La Anatomía Comparada Antes y Después del Darwinismo. Madrid: Ediciones AKAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Programmas das cadeiras da Escola Polytechnica no anno lectivo de 1856–1857. 1857. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional.

  • Raj, K. 2010. “Introduction: Circulation and Locality in Early Modern Science.” British Journal for the History of Science 43(4): 513–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raj, K. 2013. “Beyond Postcolonialism… and Postpositivism: Circulation and the Global History of Science.” Isis 104: 337–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehbock, P. F. 1990. “Transcendental Anatomy.” Andrew Cunningham and Nicholas Jardine (eds.), Romanticism and the Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 144–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, M. L. C. L. 1985. Intelectuais Portugueses na Primeira Metade de Oitocentos. Lisboa: Presença.

  • Sardica, J. M. 2001. A Regeneração sob o Signo do Consenso. A Política e os Partidos entre 1851 e 1861. Viseu: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais.

    Google Scholar 

  • Secord, J. A. 2004. “Knowledge in Transit.” Isis 95: 654–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seth, S. 2009. “Putting Knowledge in Its Place: Science, Colonialism, and the Postcolonial.” Postcolonial Studies 12(4): 373–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiebinger, L. 2005. “Forum Introduction: The European Colonial Science Complex.” Isis 96: 52–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultze, M. 1867. “On Hyalonema.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 111: 153–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, J. J. 2003. “Culture.” T. C. W. Blanning (ed.), The Nineteenth Century. Europe 1789–1914. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 126–157.

  • Sheffield, S. L.-M. 2006. Women and Science: Social Impact and Interaction. New Brunswick (NJ): Rutgers University Press.

  • Thomson, C. W. 1868. “On the “Vitreous” Sponges.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2: 114–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, C. W. 1873. The Depths of the Sea. London: Macmillan and co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, C. W. 1878. The Voyage of the “Challenger”, Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers.

  • Vicente, F. L. 2003a. “Travelling Objects: The Story of Two Natural History Collections in the Nineteenth Century.” Portuguese Studies 19: 19–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicente, F. L. 2003b. Viagens e Exposições: D. Pedro V na Europa do Século XIX. Algés: Gótica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, E. P. 1868. “Notes on Deep-Sea Dredging.” The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2: 423–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia, Departamento de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, FCT/UNL, Ed. VII, Piso 2, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Monte de Caparica, Portugal

    Daniel Gamito-Marques

Authors
  1. Daniel Gamito-Marques
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Gamito-Marques.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gamito-Marques, D. A Space of One’s Own: Barbosa du Bocage, the Foundation of the National Museum of Lisbon, and the Construction of a Career in Zoology (1851–1907). J Hist Biol 51, 223–257 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-017-9487-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-017-9487-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation