Erik Laxmann

Erik Gustawowitsch Laxmann (born 27 Julijul / August 7 1737greg in Savonlinna, Finland, .. .. † 5 Januarjul / January 16 1796greg on the journey to Tobolsk ) was a player in Russia Pastor, professor of economics, natural scientists and traveler finland Swedish origin. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Laxm. ".

Life and work

In 1764 he was in Kolyvan on the edge of the Altai Mountains southwest of Barnaul in Siberia pastor. From there he made ​​several research trips to Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and after Kjachta on the Chinese border. He collected material evidence of the fauna of Siberia; this made him known in scientific circles; In 1770 he was appointed professor of chemistry and economics at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Laxmann was in St. Petersburg professor of economics. In 1780 he moved to Irkutsk, where he spent much of his remaining life. In 1781 he was Bergrat to Nertschinsk. In 1782 he founded a museum in Irkutsk, which is probably the oldest museum in all of Siberia.

Important work has been destroyed by a fire in 1812.

Laxmann was married to Ekaterina Ivanovna; they had five sons and a daughter. One of the sons died as a child; the others were called Gustav, Adam, Afernaci and Martin; the daughter's name was Marija.

Ehrentaxon

Laxmann in honor of the genus Laxmannia R. Br the plant family of Madder ( Rubiaceae ) was named.

Works (selection)

• Siberian letters. In 1769.
• Contributions to the flora and fauna of Russia. In: Novi Comment. Acad. Sci. Imp Petrop .. Between 1770 and, 1796.

Swell

• Robert Zander, Fritz Encke, Günther Buchheim, Siegmund Seybold (eds.): Handbook of Plant Names. 13th edition. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1984, ISBN 3-8001-5042-5.