Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meyer
Encyclopedia
Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meyer (1 January 1791 Hanover
, Lower Saxony
– 7 August 1858 Königsberg
, East Prussia
) was a German botanist
and botanical historian. Born in Hanover
, he lectured in Göttingen
and in 1826 became a professor of botany at the University of Königsberg
, as well as Director of the Botanical Garden. His botanical specialty was the Juncaceae
, or family of rushes. His major work was the four-volume Geschichte der Botanik (“History of Botany,” 1854–57). His history covered ancient authorities such as Aristotle
and Theophrastus
, explored the beginnings of modern botany in the context of 15th- and 16th-century intellectual practice
, and offered a wealth of biographical data on early modern
botanists. Julius von Sachs
pronounced him “no great botanist” but admitted that he “possessed a clever and cultivated intellect.”
During his time as private tutor at the University of Göttingen he made the acquaintance of Goethe
, who had a surprising passion for botany.
The fourth volume of Geschichte der Botanik is available online. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation E.Mey. when citing
a botanical name
.
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
– 7 August 1858 Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
) was a German botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and botanical historian. Born in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, he lectured in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and in 1826 became a professor of botany at the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
, as well as Director of the Botanical Garden. His botanical specialty was the Juncaceae
Juncaceae
Juncaceae, the rush family, are a monocotyledonous family of flowering plants. There are eight genera and about 400 species. Members of the Juncaceae are slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous plants, and they may superficially resemble grasses. They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range...
, or family of rushes. His major work was the four-volume Geschichte der Botanik (“History of Botany,” 1854–57). His history covered ancient authorities such as Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
and Theophrastus
Theophrastus
Theophrastus , a Greek native of Eresos in Lesbos, was the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He came to Athens at a young age, and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death he attached himself to Aristotle. Aristotle bequeathed to Theophrastus his writings, and...
, explored the beginnings of modern botany in the context of 15th- and 16th-century intellectual practice
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
, and offered a wealth of biographical data on early modern
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
botanists. Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs was a German botanist from Breslau, Prussian Silesia.At an early age he showed a taste for natural history, becoming acquainted with the Breslau physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně. In 1851 he began studying at Charles University in Prague...
pronounced him “no great botanist” but admitted that he “possessed a clever and cultivated intellect.”
During his time as private tutor at the University of Göttingen he made the acquaintance of Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, who had a surprising passion for botany.
The fourth volume of Geschichte der Botanik is available online. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation E.Mey. when citing
Author citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
a botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.