Juan Ignacio Molina

From Freepedia

Father Juan Ignacio Molina (June 24, 1740 – September 12, 1829) was a Chilean priest and naturalist.

Molina was born at Guaraculen in the province of Maule. He was educated at Talca and the Jesuit College at Concepción. He was forced to leave Chile in 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled. He settled in Bologna and became professor of natural sciences. He wrote Saggio sulla Storia Naturale del Chile (1782), which was the first account of the natural history of that country, and described many species to science for the first time.

He is usually referred to as Abate Molina (form of Father Molina).