Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus

Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus ( born February 4, 1776 in Bremen, † February 16, 1837 ) was a German physician and naturalist.

Biography

Youth

Treviranus was the son of the merchant Joachim Johann Jacob and Catharina Margarethe Treviranus Talla. His father lost his fortune and became a notary in 1795 and 1803, the average adjuster ( insurance adjuster ). Treviranus was the eldest of nine siblings. Three of his siblings died shortly after her birth. He broke with the existing pastor for seven generations tradition and turned to science, as did so his younger brothers Ludolph Christian, who was known as a botanist, and Ludwig Georg, who worked as an engineer at one of the first German steam ships.

Forced by his parents due to financial considerations to medical school, he started this in 1793 at the University of Göttingen. He financed his studies and himself fell ill with tuberculosis in 1794. However Treviranus also visited mathematical lectures, and it was his original desire to study mathematics. In addition, he showed interest in natural science and philosophy, he attended lectures by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach and Friedrich Bouterwek. He received his doctorate in 1796 at Blumenbach. The title of his thesis was De emendanda Physiologia ( " On the improvement of physiology ").

Physicians in Bremen

Since it financially badly off his family, he struck out a call to the chair of mathematics and returned to Bremen in 1796 as a professor of mathematics and medicine at the Gymnasium in Bremen illustrious back. This position required him to hold lectures and perform treatments to patients in the city hospital. Bremen itself was under the influence of " animal magnetism " as the dominant form of treatment. Treviranus fell during magnetization in Elizabeth Focke. Focke was the daughter of a rich Schott Lord. They married on December 20, 1797 and Elisabeth gave birth to three children.

Basic research

However Treviranus felt despite his marriage to the medical profession as a " very unfortunate ", partly because of his own illness. His patients additionally aggravated him his job: "It disgusted me the mindless loitering among so many people that I would rather have prescribed prayer and work as medicines, indescribably to. " He was also dissatisfied with the medical foundations of his time:

"The purpose of medicine is preservation of health and cure of diseases. So your theory beruhet on the knowledge of the healthy and diseased body. Beyde states now are various modifications of life. To answer that question, we must first make out what life is, and so ask the biology for advice. ( Treviranus 1802, p.9) "

Finally, he turned away from medicine and began theoretical basic research. His major work, biology, or philosophy of living nature originated from 1802 to 1822. Yet his living conditions worsened during those years increasingly, he became more and more depressed and lonely. In addition, his family also fell ill with tuberculosis and his brother, who supported him always active, fell ill in 1809 with typhoid fever. As these three years later a professor in Rostock took over, broke from the personal contact.

In 1810 he visited France and wrote as a result of widespread anti- French sentiment here about only with mockery and irony. He also met Georges Cuvier, whose services he recognized and whose personal contact he enjoyed. Other scientists of his time, he knew personally, were Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847), Louiche Desfontaines (1750-1833) and Antoine Laurent de Jussieu ( 1748-1836 ).

Retreat into private life

After the withdrawal of French troops from Bremen in 1815 Treviranus failed with his political ambitions, and withdrew from the political and social life. Instead of a new edition of his " Biology " prepare, he wrote from 1831 to 1833 nor a summary of its developed since the publication of his major work of research results under the title: The phenomena and laws of organic life.

Treviranus died in 1837 from influenza during an epidemic in Bremen. He was buried on a now-defunct cemetery in Bremen. His grave stone was erected later on the Easter Holzer cemetery again.

Honors

• The Association of German Biologists gives in honor of the scientist since 1992, the Treviranus Medal.
• The Treviranusstraße in Bremen Werder Peter was named after him.

Work and works

Treviranus has introduced in his 1802 published major work " biology or philosophy of living nature for natural scientists and physicians ," the term biology as a staple of the then already existing range of life sciences. In the introduction he wrote: " The objects of our investigation will be the various forms and manifestations of life, the conditions and laws under which the condition of life takes place and the causes, whereby the same is effected. The science that deals with these objects, we will designate by the name of biology or philosophy of life. "

Treviranus gave his work a basis on which the reflections on the evolution of species and of man founded since the turn of the century in 1800, which eventually led to Darwin 's epoch-making work on the origin of species.

On the other hand, he was a very practical physician who was among the first in 1800, the - first names smallpox vaccinations in Germany - only a few years after the experiments of Edward Jenner.

Works (selection)

• Physiological fragments. Hanover, 1779-1799
• Biology, or philosophy of living nature for naturalists and physicians. 6 vols Röwer, Göttingen from 1802 to 1822.

• Miscellaneous Writings anatomical and physiological contents 188 S, Roewer, Göttingen, 1816; co-authored with his brother Ludolf Christian T. ( Prof med, Rostock).
• The phenomena and laws of organic life. Bremen, 1831-1832
• Contributions to the anatomy and physiology of the sense organs of humans and animals. Bremen, 1828
• Contributions to the explanation of the phenomena and laws of organic life. Bremen, 1835-1837