Theophrastus

Born on the island of Lesbos around 371 BCE, Theophrastus studied in Plato’s circle and then with Aristotle. When Aristotle left Athens, Theophrastus eventually became head of the Lyceum, where he carried forward the school’s work in logic, ethics, natural science, and metaphysics.

He is often called the "father of botany" because of two major surviving works, Enquiry into Plants and On the Causes of Plants. These books brought together close observation and careful classification, making them some of the most important ancient texts on plant life.

Theophrastus is also known for Characters, a short, lively collection of moral sketches that influenced later literature for centuries. Although much of his writing has been lost, the works that remain show a curious, wide-ranging mind and a gift for turning observation into lasting ideas.