Ulisse Aldrovandi (11 September 1522 - 4 May 1605) was an Italian naturalist; the moving force behind Bologna's botanical garden; one of the first in Europe. Carolus Linnaeus and the comte de Buffon reckoned him the father of natural history studies. He is usually referred to; especially in older literature; as Aldrovandus; his name in Italian is equally given as Aldroandi.

In the course of his life he would assemble one of the most spectacular cabinets of curiosities; his 'theatre' illuminating natural history comprising some 7000 specimens of the diversit?di cose naturali; of which he wrote a description in 1595. Between 1551 and 1554 he organised several expeditions to collect plants for a herbarium; among the first botanical expeditions.