August Friedrich Schweigger
Encyclopedia
August Friedrich Schweigger (8 September 1783 – 28 June 1821) was a German naturalist
born in Erlangen
. He was the younger brother of scientist Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
(1779-1857).
He studied medicine, zoology
and botany
at Erlangen, and following graduation spent time in Berlin
(from 1804) and Paris
(from 1806). In 1809 he was appointed professor of botany and medicine at the University of Königsberg
. In 1815, he was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
. On a research trip to Sicily
, he was murdered near Agrigento
on 28 June 1821.
The plant genus Schweiggeria from the family Violaceae
is named in his honor.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
born in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
. He was the younger brother of scientist Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger was a German chemist, physicist, and professor of mathematics. In 1811, he proposed the name "Chlorine" for the substance discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele and properly identified by Humphry Davy as an element in 1810. In 1820 he built the first...
(1779-1857).
He studied medicine, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and 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...
at Erlangen, and following graduation spent time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(from 1804) and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(from 1806). In 1809 he was appointed professor of botany and medicine 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....
. In 1815, he was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
. On a research trip to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, he was murdered near Agrigento
Agrigento
Agrigento , is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. It is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas , one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the golden...
on 28 June 1821.
The plant genus Schweiggeria from the family Violaceae
Violaceae
Violaceae are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 800 species in 21 genera. It takes its name from the genus Viola, the violets and pansies.Older classifications such as the Cronquist system placed Violaceae in an order named after it, the Violales...
is named in his honor.
Selected publications
- Specimen flora erlangensis, 1805
- Kranken- und Armenanstalten in Paris (Medical and Charitable Institutions in Paris). Bayreuth: Lübeck, 1809
- Beobachtungen auf naturhistorischen Reisen (Observations on Natural HistoryNatural HistoryNatural history is the scientific study of plants or animals.Natural History may also refer to:In science and medicine:* Natural History , Naturalis Historia, a 1st-century work by Pliny the Elder...
Trips). Berlin, 1819 - Handbuch der Naturgeschichte der skelettlosen ungegliederten Tiere (Textbook of Natural History on Unsegmented Invertebrates). Leipzig, 1820
- De plantarum classificatione naturalis, 1821