Ferdinand von Mueller

Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich Mueller, 1867 Mueller, since 1871 Freiherr von Mueller (* June 30, 1825 in Rostock, † October 10, 1896 in Melbourne, Australia ) was a German - Australian botanist and geographer. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " F.Muell. ".

Early years

After the early death of his father took Mueller's mother with four children to her family in Tonning. After the completion of the local rector class he entered an apprenticeship in the Unicorn pharmacist in Husum. He then studied pharmacy at the University of Kiel, but also took the tray Botany under Professor Ernst Nolte Ferdinand. At 22, he obtained in 1847 with a thesis on the ordinary shepherd's purse a doctorate. During his studies he had already dealt in detail with the flora of Schleswig-Holstein and started to build a collection.

An additional run by him to study medicine in 1847 from Mueller broke and migrated with two sisters from Bremen to Australia. The main reason for this decision was that he had been advised by medical personnel, to move to a warmer climate. The crossing is said to have used to fish plants and algae from the sea and to analyze.

On December 18, 1847 Mueller arrived in Adelaide where he found a job as a pharmacist quickly. These activities, he was briefly on to a small piece of land to farm (20 acres), which he had bought near Adelaide, but he soon returned back to the city to get back to work as a pharmacist.

During this time, Mueller published several essays on botanical subjects in German journals and 1852 he submitted the work "The Flora of South Australia " at the Linnean Society in London. From 1848 to 1852 Mueller often traveled through the country. On this occasion, he discovered and described numerous science previously unknown plants. He moved soon from Adelaide to Melbourne.

In the service of the Government of Victoria

On the recommendation of the British botanist Sir William Jackson Hooker, Mueller was hired in 1853 as a botanist by the government of the colony of Victoria. The Governor of Victoria, Charles La Trobe, this sent a specially a new post. In his new position, Mueller initially prescribed the study of the vegetation in the mountains of Australia, which was until then almost unknown. From Melbourne he explored the Buffalo Ranges, then turned to the headwaters of the Goulburn River and eventually moved over Gippsland back to the coast. Then the area of Port Albert and today's Wilson's Promontory National Park was investigated. Finally, he traveled along the coast back to Melbourne and ending a research trip, which extended over nearly 1500 miles.

That same year, Mueller founded the National Herbarium of Victoria, which still exists today and can be visited. There are many plants can be visited from Australia but also from abroad; also those which he himself has collected. Also, Mueller's extensive private library can be visited today in Melbourne.

1855/56 to Mueller joined the expedition that led Augustus Gregory on behalf of the Duke of Newcastle in the Outback, and served as a scientific expert. The expedition explored the Victoria River and other areas in the north of Australia. Mueller was one of the four members of the expedition, in 1856 reached the termination Lake, and he accompanied Gregory further on the way back up to Moreton Bay in Brisbane. During the trip, Mueller discovered almost 800 new species and after the end of the expedition published the font Definitions of Rare or Hitherto undescribed Australian Plants.

From 1854 to 1872 Mueller was a member of the Institute for the academic progress of Victoria. In 1859, he stood in front of this institute as president, when it was renamed the Royal Society of Victoria due to a royal establishment act. He was an active member of the committee that in 1860 sent out the expedition of Burke and Wills, who was to succeed the first time the crossing of Australia. Mueller promoted so that the exploration of Australia and was the only member of the committee that had to have their own experiences in research. For this reason, he had great influence on the preparation of the expedition and in particular the composition of its participants. To him, it should be thanks to them that Robert O'Hara Burke was appointed leader of the expedition. Next Mueller was involved in several attempts to resolve the fate of the missing during an expedition into the interior of Australia Ludwig Leichhardt.

Between 1857 and 1873 was Mueller Head of Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. In this capacity, he not only led many plants new to Victoria one, but also made the eucalyptus known throughout the world and made its spread to southern Europe, Africa, California and South America feed.

Mueller was the sponsor of the explorer Ernest Giles, the discoverer of Lake Amadeus and Kata Tjuta the / Mount Olga. Giles wanted the lake first and Kata Tjuta Mount Mueller call the Lake Ferdinand, but Mueller insisted to call the lake to King Amadeus of Spain and the mountain after Queen Olga of Württemberg, as both had been promised benefits. In fact, Mueller was awarded the hereditary title of Baron in 1871 on the occasion of the silver wedding of King Karl of Württemberg and Queen Olga.

1873 came Mueller for his scientific and didactic claim in the management of the botanical gardens of Melbourne increasing criticism. In April 1873 he was named a genus by William Guilfoyle, whom he described as an outstanding collector who was totally with the matter, and in whose abilities he had great hopes. However, Mueller's opinion about Guilfoyle quickly changed when he learned in July 1873 that Guilfoyle was to replace him as director of the botanical gardens of Melbourne. Now he called his rival only as a nurseryman who had no idea of ​​the science and should be with the Secretary of State his position only because of the relationship of his wife. In addition, the newly created genus Guilfoylia was abolished in Mueller's works; the associated plants he suggested to the genus Cadellia. However, the acquisition of the directorship by Guilfoyle could not prevent Mueller. This designed after his inauguration, the botanical garden in an aesthetic, the eye more pleasing manner to that appealed most Melbournern.

Honors

For his services Mueller was honored by many countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and Portugal. In 1861 he was admitted as a member of the Royal Society, and in 1879 defeated a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also a corresponding member of the Berlin Society for Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory.

In 1873 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Rostock and 1883 the Clarke Medal of the Royal Society of New South Wales, he was awarded. In 1888 he was awarded the Royal Medal of the Royal Society.

The plant genus Muelleranthus Hutchins. as well as appearing from 1955 magazine Muelleria have been named after him.

Adel survey

The award of the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown Mueller was first raised on 20 December 1867 in the Württemberg personal nobility. The survey in the Württemberg baron took place four years later on July 6, 1871.

After Mueller different geographic areas were identified: So the Mueller Ranges (WA), the Muellers Range ( Qld ), a Mount Mueller (both in WA, NT, Tas and Vic ) and a Mount Mueller (WA), Muellers Peak ( NSW ), the Mueller River ( Vic ), Mueller's Creek ( SA) and Mueller Creek ( NT), Lake Mueller ( Qld ), and finally the Mueller glacier in New Zealand.

Works

Mueller's published work is very extensive. The most likely important work Muellers are published 1858-1881 eleven volumes of Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. His Plants Indigenous to the Colony of Victoria ( 2 volumes, 1860-1865 ), and the Key to the System of Victorian Plants ( 2 volumes, 1885-1887 ) were milestones in the description of the flora of southeastern Australia. Together with George Bentham, he published a seven -volume work Flora Australiensis (1863-1878), which was based on his collected samples and notes.

His other major works include still the Selected Extra - Tropical Plants (1881 ), Eucalyptographia ( 1879-1884 ), Systematic Census of Australian Plants ( 1882-1885 with a Supplement 1889) and the Iconography of Australian Salsolaceous Plants ( 1889-1891 ).

In addition:

  • An historical review of the explorations of Australia. Philosophical Institute, Melbourne 1858
  • Enumeration of the plants collected by Dr J Murray falling on Mr A Howitt 's Expedition into Central Australia in the year 1862, In: . Annual Report of the Government Botanist. , 1863, pp. 16-18
  • On the systematic position of the Nardoo plans and the physiological characteristics of its fruit. In: Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. During the years 1861 to 1864, 1865, pp. 137-147
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