Eugène Autran (1855-1912) and the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève

The career of Eugène (Eugenio) Autran (1855–1912) was marked by two profound changes. The first occurred when he transitioned from working in industry to becoming a full-time naturalist, taking-up the position of curator at the Boissier Herbarium in Geneva, Switzerland in 1888, as well as becoming editor of its in-house journal, the Bulletin de l'Herbier Boissier. The second change came twelve years later when he abruptly left and emigrated to Argentina, apparently under something of a cloud. There, he worked at the Pharmacology Museum at the University of Buenos Aires, where his role included editing the Trabajos del Museo de Farmacología and working for the Ministry of Agriculture. Autran also helped establish the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden and was involved in the creation of Argentina's national parks. Although he is mainly remembered as a botanist, his first interest was actually entomology. Before leaving Switzerland, he donated an extensive collection of Hemiptera to the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève (MHNG). Despite his sudden departure, Autran continued to send specimens (and publications) to the museum from Argentina and apparently enjoyed good relations with Genevan scientists.