Juan Antonio Hernández Pérez de Larrea


Juan Antonio Hernández Pérez de Larrea was a Spanish botanist, director of the Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País, and Bishop of Valladolid.

Biography

Larrea was born into a noble family. Excelling in theological studies, he became a pastor in the town of Terriente in 1760.
In 1775, he was appointed canon of Zaragoza. Here he became invested in the botanical garden of the city, and experimented on the making of carmine dye and the spinning of silk.
In 1788, he was anointed as a knight of the Order of Charles III.
In 1792 he began to collaborate with the . In 1798, he became the director of the Academy.
Larrea was appointed bishop of the diocese of Valladolid in 1801. It was here he died in 1803.

Legacy

The plant genus Larrea was named in his honor.

Publications