Johann Wilhelm von Müller
Encyclopedia
Baron Johann Wilhelm von Müller (4 March 1824 – 24 October 1866) was a German
ornithologist and explorer.
Müller was born in Kochersteinsfeld, Neckarsulm
, the grandson of the banker Johannes Müller. In 1845 he travelled to Morocco
and Algiers
, and in 1847 embarked on a longer African journey, accompanied by Alfred Brehm
as his secretary. They travelled through Egypt
to Khartoum
and Kordofan, returning to Alexandria
in February 1849. Müller left Brehm there and returned to Germany with the natural history specimens collected on his journey, and made plans for a third expedition. Unfortunately Müller ran into financial difficulties and was not able to rejoin Brehm, instead sending him funds to proceed to Khartoum with Alfred's brother Oskar and a doctor called Richard Vierthaler.
In the autumn of 1849 Müller began publication of the ornithological journal Naumannia, edited by Eduard Baldamus. He also began work on an illustrated book entitled Beiträge zur Ornithologie Afrikas (1853-1870), of which only five parts were ever published. In 1852 he purchased the natural history collection of Christian Ludwig Landbeck
before the latter's emigration to Chile
. Later in that same year he became director of the Brussels Zoological Garden, resigning in 1854. He then travelled to North America and Mexico
, and on his return wrote Reisen in den Vereinigten Staaten, Canada, und Mexiko (1864-1865).
Müller is commemorated in the name of the Blue-headed Bee-eater
Merops muelleri.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ornithologist and explorer.
Müller was born in Kochersteinsfeld, Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, near Stuttgart, and part of the district Heilbronn. As of 2004, Neckarsulm had 27,296 inhabitants....
, the grandson of the banker Johannes Müller. In 1845 he travelled to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, and in 1847 embarked on a longer African journey, accompanied by Alfred Brehm
Alfred Brehm
Alfred Edmund Brehm was aGerman zoologist, natural history illustrator and writer, the son ofChristian Ludwig Brehm....
as his secretary. They travelled through Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
and Kordofan, returning to Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in February 1849. Müller left Brehm there and returned to Germany with the natural history specimens collected on his journey, and made plans for a third expedition. Unfortunately Müller ran into financial difficulties and was not able to rejoin Brehm, instead sending him funds to proceed to Khartoum with Alfred's brother Oskar and a doctor called Richard Vierthaler.
In the autumn of 1849 Müller began publication of the ornithological journal Naumannia, edited by Eduard Baldamus. He also began work on an illustrated book entitled Beiträge zur Ornithologie Afrikas (1853-1870), of which only five parts were ever published. In 1852 he purchased the natural history collection of Christian Ludwig Landbeck
Christian Ludwig Landbeck
Christian Ludwig Landbeck was a prominent German ornithologist.He took part in an expedition to Chile and described many species of birds in collaboration with Rodolfo Amando Philippi...
before the latter's emigration to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Later in that same year he became director of the Brussels Zoological Garden, resigning in 1854. He then travelled to North America and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and on his return wrote Reisen in den Vereinigten Staaten, Canada, und Mexiko (1864-1865).
Müller is commemorated in the name of the Blue-headed Bee-eater
Blue-headed Bee-eater
The blue-headed bee-eater is a species of bird in the Meropidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.The blue-headed...
Merops muelleri.