Karl von Scherzer
Encyclopedia
Karl Ritter von Scherzer (sometimes written Carl -, May 1, 1821 in Vienna
- February 19, 1903 in Görz,) was an Austrian explorer, diplomat and natural scientist.
He took an active part in the 1848 revolution
and was exiled to Italy
in 1850. Here Scherzer became friends with Moritz Wagner
and together with him travelled through North and Central America and West Indies (1852 - 1855). He returned to Vienna in the middle of 1855 and, with support of Archduke Maximilian
, became member of the group of scientists travelling on the board of the frigate Novara
around the world (see Novara expedition). After return in 1859 he was a councillor of the board of trade, held an office in the bureau of foreign relations, and was tasked with compiling the commercial statistics of the empire.
As a reward for his publications Scherzer was knight
ed during 1866. During 1869 he was the leader of expedition to the eastern Asia, afterwards he served as a consul in several places including Smyrna
(today's İzmir
). In 1886 Scherzer retired.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
- February 19, 1903 in Görz,) was an Austrian explorer, diplomat and natural scientist.
Biography
He began his working life as a printer, but because of an inherited fortune Scherzer was able to travel extensively.He took an active part in the 1848 revolution
Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas
From March 1848 through July 1849, the Habsburg Austrian Empire was threatened by revolutionary movements. Much of the revolutionary activity was of a nationalist character: the empire, ruled from Vienna, included Austrian Germans, Hungarians, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Ruthenians,...
and was exiled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1850. Here Scherzer became friends with Moritz Wagner
Moritz Wagner
Moritz Wagner was a German explorer, collector, geographer and natural historian. Wagner devoted three years to the exploration of Algiers: it was here that he made important observations in natural history, which he later supplemented and developed: that geographical isolation could play a key...
and together with him travelled through North and Central America and West Indies (1852 - 1855). He returned to Vienna in the middle of 1855 and, with support of Archduke Maximilian
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
, became member of the group of scientists travelling on the board of the frigate Novara
SMS Novara
Two ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy have been named SMS Novara after the Battle of Novara :*SMS Novara , a sail frigate most noted for its 1857 - 1859 around-the-world scientific expedition, and also for carrying Archduke Maximillian to the Americas where he was proclaimed Maximilian I of...
around the world (see Novara expedition). After return in 1859 he was a councillor of the board of trade, held an office in the bureau of foreign relations, and was tasked with compiling the commercial statistics of the empire.
As a reward for his publications Scherzer was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed during 1866. During 1869 he was the leader of expedition to the eastern Asia, afterwards he served as a consul in several places including Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
(today's İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
). In 1886 Scherzer retired.
Books
- Reisen in Nordamerika in den Jahren 1852 und 1853. (Travels in North America during 1852 and 1853), 3 parts, Arnold, Leipzig, 1854. Written together with Moritz WagnerMoritz WagnerMoritz Wagner was a German explorer, collector, geographer and natural historian. Wagner devoted three years to the exploration of Algiers: it was here that he made important observations in natural history, which he later supplemented and developed: that geographical isolation could play a key...
. - Las Historias del origen de los Indios de Guatemala, par el R. P. F. Francisco Ximenes. Vienna, 1856. Copy of Spanish translation of Popol VuhPopol VuhPopol Vuh is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic Quiché kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands. The title translates as "Book of the Community," "Book of Counsel," or more literally as "Book of the People."...
manuscript (more details). - Wanderungen Durch die Mittel-Amerikanischen Freistaaten Nicaragua, Honduras und San Salvador (Travels through Central American states of Nicaragua, Honduras and San Salvador), Braunschweig George Westermann, 1857. Details of the 1852 - 1855 expedition.
- Reise der öesterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde, in den Jahren 1857 - 1859 (Narrative of the circumnavigation of the globe by the Austrian frigate Novarra), Vienna, 1861 - 1862, three volumes, with illustrations. First English edition by London Saunders, Otley, And Co. 1861.
- Aus dem Natur- und Völkerleben im tropischen Amerika. (About the nature and the life of people in tropic America), Leipzig, Wigand Verlag, 1864.
- Statistisch-commerzielle Ergebnisse einer Reise um die Erde, unternommen an Bord der österreichischen Fregatte Novara in den Jahren 1857-1859. (Statistical and commercial results of the circumnaviagation of the globe, written on the board of Austrian frigate Novara during 1857-1859), F.A. Brockhaus, Leipzig 1867.
- Fachmannische Berichte über die Osterreichische-Ungarische Expedition nach Siam, China und Japan (1868-1871) (Scholarly report about the Austro-Hungarian expedition to Siam, China and Japan (1868-1871)), Stuttgart, Verlag von Julius Maier, 1872.
- Smyrna (SmyrnaSmyrnaSmyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
), Vienna, 1873. A monograph about the city. - Das wirthschaftliche Leben der Völker. Ein Handbuch über Production und Consum. (Economic life of nations. Handbook of production and consumption.), Leipzig, Dürr, 1885.
External links
- Extract from diary during Novara expedition (1857 - 1859)
- New York Times obituary
- Another 1857 portrait