The father of taxonomy is generally considered to be Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist and naturalist who lived in the 18th century. Linnaeus is known for developing the system of classification that is still in use today, which is known as the Linnaean taxonomy. In this system, organisms are classified based on their physical characteristics and grouped into a hierarchy of categories, starting with the most general (kingdom) and becoming increasingly specific (phylum, class, order, family, genus, species).

Linnaeus’s system of classification was an important step in the development of the modern understanding of the diversity of life and has had a significant influence on the way that scientists study and understand the natural world. His contributions to the field of taxonomy have earned him a reputation as the “father of taxonomy.”