The name Rattus norvegicus for the brown rat was coined by John Berkenhout, a figure who navigated diverse professional spheres as a soldier, physician, and prolific author. Born in Leeds in 1726, he moved between academic institutions in Scotland and the Netherlands before establishing a medical practice in England and engaging in covert political missions during the American Revolution.
Military and Academic Formation
Before pursuing medicine, Berkenhout spent several years in Germany learning languages and serving as a cadet and captain in a Prussian infantry regiment. With the onset of the Seven Years' War in 1756, he transitioned into the English army. He eventually shifted his focus to academia, attending the University of Edinburgh and later the University of Leyden, where he earned his medical degree on 13 May 1765.
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Berkenhout produced a vast array of publications throughout his career. While still an Edinburgh student, he released the botanical lexicon Clavis Anglica Linguæ Botanicæ. His contributions to biology included three volumes of Outlines of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland, published between 1769 and 1771, and a revised synopsis in 1788. His medical output featured Pharmacopoeia Medici and specialized texts such as Symptomatology and an essay on the treatment of dog bites.
Diplomatic Assignments
In 1778, the British government dispatched Berkenhout to North America as part of the Carlisle Peace Commission. His mission required clandestine movement, and he managed to reach Philadelphia despite limitations imposed by the Continental Congress. After contacting local figures such as Richard Henry Lee, he faced suspicion of corrupting citizens. Following a period of detention and interrogation by figures including Benjamin Rush, he was paroled and returned to England to receive a pension for his efforts.
Literary and Educational Contributions
Beyond science, Berkenhout explored biography and social commentary. He authored the first volume of Biographia Literaria in 1777 and edited John Campbell’s Lives of the Admirals. In 1780, he proposed new tax strategies in Lucubrations on Ways and Means, suggestions that were later implemented by Lord North and William Pitt the Younger. His final publication, a collection of letters to his son at university, offered his views on the education system, specifically criticizing the practice of fagging.
Fast facts
- Born: 1726, Leeds
- Died: 3 April 1791, Besselsleigh
- Education: Leeds Grammar School, University of Edinburgh, University of Leyden
- Occupations: Physician, naturalist, writer
- Notable contribution: Named the brown rat Rattus norvegicus
- Military rank: Captain (Prussian infantry)
- Language: English
Questions readers ask
What was Berkenhout's role in the American Revolution?
He served as a British agent for the Carlisle Peace Commission in 1778, which led to his temporary imprisonment in Philadelphia.
Did Berkenhout contribute to tax policy?
Yes, his 1780 work Lucubrations on Ways and Means contained tax proposals subsequently adopted by William Pitt the Younger.
