F. W. H. A. von Humboldt

  • Name

    Friedrich W. H. A. von Humboldt

  • Dates

    14 Sep 1769 - 6 May 1859

  • Specialities

    Bryophytes, Mycology, Pteridophytes, Spermatophytes

  • Roles

    Author, Collector

  • Movement Details

    Germany

  • Notes

    Author Notes: Main collections at P, some at B-WILLD.
    Collector Notes: Tropical America 1799-1804.
    (Baron) Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was a German natural scientist, archeologist, explorer and geographer, who made two major expeditions to Latin America (1799-1804) and to Asia (1829). During the first, equipped with the best scientific instruments, he surveyed and collected geological, zoological, botanical, and ethnographic specimens, including over 60,000 rare or new tropical plants. He charted and made observations on a cold ocean current along the Peruvian coast, now named the Humboldt Current. In geology, he made pioneering observations of stratigraphy, structure and geomorphology; he understood the connections between volcanism and earthquakes. Humboldt named the Jurassic System.

  • Collections

    Botanical Collections