 Anders Tidström, a disciple of pioneering botanist and taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus, met the nine-year-old Dahl during his second journey through Västergötlan in 1760, and mentions in his travel diary both young Anders' interest in botany, and his collection of plants (received from his uncle Anders Silvius, a chemist in Skara).In 1761 Dahl began school in Skara, and found several schoolmates who shared his interest in natural science.In conjunction with the parish priest and naturalist Clas Bjerkander, Dahl, Johan Abraham, entomologist Leonard Gyllenhaal, chemist Johan Afzelius, Daniel Næzén and Olof Knös founded "The Swedish Topographic Society in Skara" on 13 December 1769.