Peter Forsskål (1732-1763) was a Swedish naturalist, explorer, and orientalist who made significant contributions to the field of natural history. He is best known for his work in the Middle East, where he conducted extensive research on the flora and fauna of the region. Forsskål was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1732. His father was a professor of medicine at the University of Uppsala, and his mother was a wealthy landowner. Forsskål was educated at the University of Uppsala, where he studied botany, zoology, and medicine.
In 1760, Forsskål was appointed as a professor of natural history at the University of Uppsala. He was also appointed as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. During this time, Forsskål conducted extensive research on the flora and fauna of Sweden. He published several books on the subject, including Flora Suecica (1761) and Fauna Suecica (1762).
In 1763, Forsskål was invited to join an expedition to the Middle East by the Danish government. The expedition was led by Carsten Niebuhr, and its purpose was to explore the region and collect specimens of plants and animals. Forsskål was the only naturalist on the expedition, and he was responsible for collecting and cataloging the specimens. During the expedition, Forsskål traveled to Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. He collected over 2000 specimens of plants and animals, and wrote extensively about the region.
Forsskål's work in the Middle East was groundbreaking. He was the first to describe many species of plants and animals, and he made significant contributions to the field of natural history. He also wrote extensively about the culture and customs of the region. His work was highly influential, and it helped to shape the field of natural history for generations to come.
Forsskål died in 1763, shortly after the expedition ended. He was only 31 years old. His work was not widely known until the 19th century, when it was rediscovered and published. Today, Forsskål is remembered as one of the most important naturalists of the 18th century. His work in the Middle East helped to shape the field of natural history, and his legacy lives on in the work of modern naturalists.