Joachim Christian Timm
Encyclopedia
Joachim Christian Timm was an apothecary
, mayor of Malchin, and a botanist with a particular interest in cryptogram
s. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Timm when citing
a botanical name
.
, Matthias Ernst Timm (1704–1779). He was born in Wangerin in Eastern Pomerania
(at that time part of Prussia
, now in Poland
) and attended school there. In 1749 he started a five-year apprenticeship as an apothecary, initially with Friedrich John in Wangerin, where he served for a year as an assistant. In the 1750s he was in Mecklenburg
, working in Rostock
. At the end of the 1750s he moved to Malchin to manage the apothecary business of Georg Heinrich Kruger and his successors. In 1760, Timm became the official apothecary of Malchin. In 1771 he was elected senator. In 1778 he became the Second or Vice-Mayor of Malchin, becoming the Mayor in 1790. The tradition of having more than one mayor to lead the town ended with his death.
As an apothecary, he was interested in botany
. He enthusiastically collected plants of all kinds, especially cryptogams, primarily in the Malchin area. In 1788 he published his work Florae megapolitanae Prodromus, which he based on the system of the Swedish botanist Linnaeus. Professor Johann Hedwig
of Leipzig later named a genus of moss Timmia
after him, including the species he found at Malchin in Mecklenburg, Timmia megapolitana. The epithet megapolitania here refers to Mecklenburg, which was then often referred to by the Greek equivalent megapolis. At the instigation of the author of a monograph
on Timmia, Guy Brassard, a mountain on the Arctic Ellesmere Island
was named "Mount Timmia" in honour of Timm.
In 1762, Timm married Anna Christine Elisabeth Witte (1743–1792), a merchant's daughter from Röbel
. They had ten children, including the sons Joachim (1768–1801) and Hans Timm (1774–1852), who one after the other succeeded their father as the official apothecary in Malchin. Another son, Helmuth Timm (1782–1848), became a pastor in Groß Gievitz
and later in Malchin.
Joachim Christian Timm is now regarded as a pioneer of modern botany in Germany.
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
, mayor of Malchin, and a botanist with a particular interest in cryptogram
Cryptogram
A cryptogram is a type of puzzle which consists of a short piece of encrypted text. Generally the cipher used to encrypt the text is simple enough that cryptogram can be solved by hand. Frequently used are substitution ciphers where each letter is replaced by a different letter or number. To solve...
s. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Timm 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...
.
Life
Joachim Christian Timm was the son of a tobacconistTobacconist
A tobacconist is an expert dealer in tobacco in various forms and the related accoutrements .Such accoutrements include pipes, lighters, matches, pipe cleaners, pipe tampers, ashtrays, humidification devices, hygrometers, humidors, cigar cutters, and more. Books and magazines, especially ones...
, Matthias Ernst Timm (1704–1779). He was born in Wangerin in Eastern Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
(at that time part of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, now in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) and attended school there. In 1749 he started a five-year apprenticeship as an apothecary, initially with Friedrich John in Wangerin, where he served for a year as an assistant. In the 1750s he was in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, working in Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
. At the end of the 1750s he moved to Malchin to manage the apothecary business of Georg Heinrich Kruger and his successors. In 1760, Timm became the official apothecary of Malchin. In 1771 he was elected senator. In 1778 he became the Second or Vice-Mayor of Malchin, becoming the Mayor in 1790. The tradition of having more than one mayor to lead the town ended with his death.
As an apothecary, he was interested in botany
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...
. He enthusiastically collected plants of all kinds, especially cryptogams, primarily in the Malchin area. In 1788 he published his work Florae megapolitanae Prodromus, which he based on the system of the Swedish botanist Linnaeus. Professor Johann Hedwig
Johann Hedwig
Johann Hedwig , also seen as Johannes Hedwig or Latinised as Joannis Hedwig, was a German botanist notable for his studies of mosses , in particular the observation of sexual reproduction in the cryptogams.He was born in Romania, and studied medicine at the University of Leipzig,...
of Leipzig later named a genus of moss Timmia
Timmia
Timmia is a genus of moss. It is the only genus in the family Timmiaceae and order Timmiales. The genus is named in honor of the 18th-century German botanist Joachim Christian Timm.The genus Timmia includes only four species:...
after him, including the species he found at Malchin in Mecklenburg, Timmia megapolitana. The epithet megapolitania here refers to Mecklenburg, which was then often referred to by the Greek equivalent megapolis. At the instigation of the author of a monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
on Timmia, Guy Brassard, a mountain on the Arctic Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Lying within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, it is considered part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, with Cape Columbia being the most northerly point of land in Canada...
was named "Mount Timmia" in honour of Timm.
In 1762, Timm married Anna Christine Elisabeth Witte (1743–1792), a merchant's daughter from Röbel
Röbel
Röbel is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Müritz, 25 km north of Wittstock, and 27 km southwest of Waren.-Sights:...
. They had ten children, including the sons Joachim (1768–1801) and Hans Timm (1774–1852), who one after the other succeeded their father as the official apothecary in Malchin. Another son, Helmuth Timm (1782–1848), became a pastor in Groß Gievitz
Groß Gievitz
Groß Gievitz is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
and later in Malchin.
Joachim Christian Timm is now regarded as a pioneer of modern botany in Germany.