Karl Eichwald
| Karl Eichwald | |
|---|---|
 Karl Eichwald | |
| Born |
4 July 1795 Jelgava (German: Mitau), present-day Latvia |
| Died |
10 November 1876 St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Citizenship | Russian Empire |
| Nationality | Baltic German |
| Fields |
Geology Medicine |
Karl Eduard von Eichwald (4 July 1795, Mitau, Courland Governorate – 10 November 1876, Saint Petersburg; Russian: Эдуард Иванович Эйхвальд, Eduard Ivanovich Eykhval'd) was a Baltic German geologist, physician, and naturalist, who worked in Russia.
Eichwald was a Baltic German born at Mitau in Courland Governorate. He became doctor of medicine and professor of zoology in Kazan in 1823; four years later professor of zoology and comparative anatomy at Vilnius; in 1838 professor of zoology, mineralogy and medicine at St. Petersburg; and finally professor of palaeontology in the institute of mines in that city.
He travelled much in the Russian empire, and was a keen observer of its natural history and geology. He died at St. Petersburg.
His published works include Reise auf dem Caspischen Meere und in den Caucasus, 2 vols. (Stuttgart and Tübingen, 1834-1838); Die Urwelt Russlands (St Petersburg, 1840-1845); Le Lethaea Rossica, ou Paléontologie de la Russie, 3 vols. (Stuttgart, 1852-1868), with Atlases.
In the scientific field of herpetology he described several new species of reptiles.[1]
His work is not devoid of serious shortcomings, dependent in part on the nature of the compiler. In old age, few self-confident scientists are willing to admit their mistakes. Part of the errors were because of low-quality material, which had been gathered for him by often inexperienced or illiterate people. Therefore, the conclusions are not always trustworthy.
See also
- List of Baltic German scientists
Notes
- ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ [http://www.ipni.org/ipni/advAuthorSearch.do?find_abbreviation=Eichw. "Author Query for 'Eichw.'"]. International Plant Names Index.
References
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Eichwald, Karl Eduard von". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press
External links
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