Title: A Prussian in Mexican California: Ferdinand Deppe, Horticulturist, Collector for European Museums, Trader and Artist
Abstract:Lichtenstein (1780-1857), professor at the newly founded Berlin University in 1811 and from 1813 until his death the head of the Zoological Museum in its initial period, during the first half of the n...Lichtenstein (1780-1857), professor at the newly founded Berlin University in 1811 and from 1813 until his death the head of the Zoological Museum in its initial period, during the first half of the nineteenth century wasalong with his friend Alexander von Humboldta prominent promoter of overseas endeavors in natural history for the enrichment of the Berlin collections.1 In 1821, when Mexico gained its independence from the Spanish Crown and opened its harbors to the vessels of other nations, Count Albert von Sack (c. 1753-1829), Chamberlain to the King of Prussia and Vize-Oberjagermeister (Second Master of the Royal Hunt), made plans for a journey to Mexico, wishing to be accompanied by a collector of animal and plant specimens. From 1805 to 1807 and from 1810 to 1812 he had been in Surinam bringing along rarities of nature to the new Berlin University. In recent years, from 1818 to 1820, he had traveled in Egypt, Cyprus and Greece returning with antiquities and natural history specimens acquired for institutions in Berlin.2 Now he intended to enrich the Zoological Museum and the menagerie on the Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) near Potsdam by sending home taxidermal specimens and living animals from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Lichtenstein was asked by his superior, the minister of cultural affairs, Baron von Altenstein, to select a young man who would accompany CountRead More
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 4
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