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Father Juan Ignacio Molina y Gonzalez, SJ
(1740-1829)
First Scientist of Chile

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Scott 369 Scott C282
CHILE, 1968, Scott 369 and C282
The red lilac regular issue stamp mentions Molina's donation to the Liceo de Talca and hails him as a Benefactor of National Education,
the bright green airmail stamp alludes to his scientific writings and names him First Scientist of Chile.

Juan Ignacio Molina was born near Talca, Chile and entered the Jesuits at Santiago when he was only fifteen. He was forced to leave Chile in 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled, and was ordained priest just a few days before the Suppression of the Society, after which he was usually referred to as Abate (Abbot). He taught in Bologna, studied the natural sciences, and became the foremost historian and geographer of Chile. He anticipated Darwin by proposing the gradual evolution of human beings. In 1815 he inherited a large fortune and gave most of it to found a college and library in Talca. More

Scott 1291
CHILE, 1999, the bicentenary of Humboldt's visit to South America, Scott 1291
While this stamp was issued to honor Humboldt, the statue on the left is that of Molina with whom Humboldt consulted;
the statue seems to have been the inspiration for the earlier 1968 two escudo stamp.

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