Jacob Breyne

Jacob Breyne (14 January 1637 – 25 January 1697) was a Polish merchant, naturalist, and artist, born in Danzig (Gdańsk),[1] Royal Prussia (a fief of the Crown of Poland).

Breyne was interested in plants from a young age, and collected specimens from around Danzig.

He recorded where they were found and included ecological notes on each plant.

He became acquainted with prominent members of the community there who kept gardens which included some of the most beautiful and rare plants.

A large number of the plants Breyne drew came from Van Beverningk, from Oud-Teilingen Sassenheim near Leiden.

Jakob Breyne, Abbildung in Prodromi fasciculi rariorum plantarum primus et secundus, 1739
Prodromi fasciculi rariorum plantarum primus et secundus , 1739