On May 13th in Science History, a significant event took place in 1637. On this day, Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France, created the Jardin des Plantes, which is now the main botanical garden in France.

The Jardin des Plantes, located in Paris, was initially known as the Jardin du Roi (King's Garden). It was established as a medicinal herb garden for the royal family. However, it quickly expanded its collection and became a center for botanical research and education.

One of the most notable figures associated with the Jardin des Plantes was Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, who was appointed as the head of the garden in 1739. Buffon transformed the garden into a major research institution and greatly expanded its collections. He also authored the influential 36-volume "Histoire Naturelle" (Natural History), which attempted to describe all known plants and animals at the time.

Throughout its history, the Jardin des Plantes has been home to numerous important scientific figures, including botanists Antoine Laurent de Jussieu and Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart, as well as naturalists Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier.

Today, the Jardin des Plantes covers an area of 28 hectares (69 acres) and is home to over 10,000 plant species, making it one of the most diverse botanical gardens in the world. It also houses several museums, including the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution (Gallery of Evolution) and the Mineralogy Museum.

The creation of the Jardin des Plantes on May 13th, 1637, marked the beginning of a significant institution that has contributed greatly to our understanding of the natural world and continues to inspire and educate visitors from around the globe.