Ottó Herman

Herman on a 1960 Hungarian stamp
Ottó Herman's holiday home in Lillafüred, Hungary

Ottó Herman (26 June 1835 – 27 December 1914) was a Hungarian zoologist, ethnographer, archaeologist, and politician; a polymath recognized as a pioneer of Hungarian natural history research. He made numerous studies on Hungarian spiders, birds, and fishes, founded the journal Natural History Notebooks, which became one of the most popular scientific publications of Hungary, and the ornithological journal Aquila. He is called "the Father of the birds" in Hungary. He was a member of several learned societies including the Royal Hungarian Society of Natural History, Hungarian Linguistics Society, Hungarian Society of Ethnography and was elected to Hungarian Parliament.[1][2] The Ottó Herman Museum of Miskolc bears his name.

His work in favor of science, politics and all these activities have a significant impact in Hungary.

Biography

Ottó Herman was born in Breznóbánya, Kingdom of Hungary (modern day Slovakia) into a Zipser Saxon family. He started his schools in Miskolc. He studied engineering in Vienna, however, due to family reasons he couldn't finish his studies. He wanted to fight beside the Hungarian revolutionaries of 1848 but was sent home because he couldn't provide a letter about his father's consent (he was only 14). Later, Herman spent years in military services as a punishment because he deliberately wanted to avoid conscription into the Austrian Army. He became a well-known journalist and MP in the Hungarian National Assembly. He frequently visited Lajos Kossuth in Torino, Italy.

Ottó Herman was an autodidact who immersed himself in a wide variety of zoological (ornithological, speleological, ichthyological), archaeological and ethnographic sources. He was the first person who stated that cavemen lived in Hungary in the past after studying chopping tools found in Miskolc's surrounding areas. His best known works are "Spider faunas in Hungary I-III", "The usefulness and mischievousness of the birds" and the "Book of the Hungarian Fishery I-II". Herman was the father of the Hungarian Palaeolithic research and Hungarian Speleology. He started the Natural History Notebooks and was its editor for 10 years (until 1886). He also founded and edited the Aquila (an ornithological review) until the end of his life. Herman established and was the director of the Hungarian Ornithological Centre (then a department of the Hungarian National Museum). He was one of the founding members of the Hungarian Society of Ethnography.

Science

The Transylvanian Museum Society ran from modest circumstances. Known throughout the country , but aging Brassai Samuel was head of the Department of Natural Sciences , who all had the help of a servant , and was arranging the collection Cluj very modest circumstances. To the development of its one thousand forints kicking executive pay to forego one third of it and announced a grant to assist with the conservator is to work there. Otto Herman was captured at this time a skylark albino, which is prepared and sent by way of a stuffed ermine application, accompanied by a letter of support, Chernel Kálmán. Brassai Sámuel announced the arranged meeting on April 6 , 1864, on his own expense he hired an individual from Kőszegi.

Multifaceted scientific work and political engagement in the period 1864-1872 in Cluj began. His first major scientific writing here by the kabasólyomról, which appeared in 1865, Falco subbuteo Linnéx title, specification from Cluj more publicity, for example, in 1866 the Great Cluj calendar appears and Art of the spider. Brassai and Herman were otherwise completely the same cut. The many striking exterior hid behind a person who wanted to know and experience everything, but most importantly, how to live with the animals in nature. However, the two scientists did not have the same character Brassai loved the details to ponder and useful for a lot of time spent on, while Herman sought the great general interest, large units towards and detail mostly sought during his life-long debates.

The Herman's academic work was not intended to stand as straight despised as the scientists who have devoted time only to have the animal species undescribed look for, so that they capture the name of science. Instead, he tried to look for relationships and experiences and publish to the simple people for ease. More collective way involved in, such as the Székely Land Forces and the field in order to enrich the Transylvanian collection. The results of the work that enriched and nurtured the zoological collections, later becoming increasingly notable.

Due to the growing domestic and international prestige, was soon offered a new job. Carl Brunner invited him to Vienna, and participate in a planned African Cameroon zoological collection expedition. At that time, Hungarian Natural History Society multi scholarship was given to him. Szily Frivaldszky Nelson and John was due to the foreign trip, instead wrote the great international recognition, monograph on the domestic pókfaunáról which included 328 pókfajtát, and in this work was carried out by a description of 36 new species.

1875 was the day for Hungarian National Museum. Here his working study was published as a monograph on pókfaunáról already mentioned, which appeared in 1875, 1877, and 1878, and his illustration was presented. The three-volume work was all the more easily abroad also known as the author of the first and the second volume is written in Hungarian and German. The book pages of text into two columns. The first was in Hungary , the other German. The third volume is written in English, German is a summary only appendix. The work bilingualism was of great importance, because until then the scientific treatises usually appeared in German.

Legacy

There are many sources in science studies and creator of value, for a total estate of 5,940 pages. 14 books published, as well as about 1,140 articles and studies published lecture, he also wrote off 36 new spider species. Today, many schools, associations bears his name, for example, one of the largest high schools in Miskolc, Otto Herman Secondary School. In 1953, the museum of Miskolc, Borsod-picked the name Ottó Herman Museum. In 1960, the Hungarian Post Herman Otto the 125th anniversary of the birth issued designed by Joseph Laszlo Kékesi and graphic artists commemorative stamp. Recognition of the Hungarian karst and cave researchers established the Herman Otto medal. Kadić Ottokar proposal tribute for a sign polymath scientist, in 1915 the cave was named after him. Herman Otto cave west of Miskolc, Szinva Brook Valley. Budapest II. district street was named after him, and in the north of the Plant Protection Research Institute.

Built in 1890, the former Lillafüred house (which he called Pele-live) is a tourist attraction and it bears his name, it is now known as Otto Herman Memorial House and is home to two permanent exhibitions. One presents the scientist's life, and the other of Beech Mountain wildlife. Budapest 1965 elhozatta ashes Miskolc City Council, in accordance with his will, place the Hámori cemetery. Nicholas tomb Varga Miskolc sculpture was created by 2013 Miskolc local government, but due to the protests, they restored the original tomb of shape. Remembrance is annually held in Hungary Herman Otto national biology competition. Remembrance of the city of Miskolc Assembly of Herman Otto founded scientific awards, which are transferred each year as part of a celebration of Miskolc. First honoree in 2001 was Karpati Laszlo curator. Year of 2014 marked 100th death anniversary, the National Environment Institute at national, state, Herman Otto commemorative year organized the scientist and work of honor. The 100th anniversary of Miskolc General Assembly 2014 posthumously awarded an honorary citizen.

In December 2014, Duna Television has begun a four-part documentary series on the projection of the scientist Otto Herman , the last Hungarian polymath address.

References

  1. ↑ Hangay, George (2008). "Herman, Ottó". In Capinera, John L. Encyclopedia of Entomology (2nd ed.). Dordrecht: Springer. pp. 1792–1793. ISBN 9781402062421.
  2. ↑ Szathmáry, Louis I. (1996). "Otto Herman: Much More Than a Chef". In Walker, Harlan. Cooks & Other People: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, 1995. Totnes, England: Prospect Books. pp. 259–265. ISBN 0907325726.

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