Dresden and beyond: Alexander von Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt was a striking figure in science and the popular culture of the first half of the 19th century. Born in Berlin in 1769, his father had married the widow of a wealthy Baron. He was classically tutored in mathematics and languages, and later trained in geography at the Freiberg Academy of Mines (FAM). While studying at FAM he met George Forester, Captain James Cook's scientific illustrator from his second voyage. Forester fostered the dream of becoming a scientific explorer. But first things first, he needed a job when he graduated, and at the age of 22 worked for the government in the administration of mines. Boring. Then his mother died in 1796 and his inherited wealth freed him from financial concerns. Indeed, he used his own wealth to fund much of his travels and research.

He was determined to set sail and explore. The first trip fell through, a circumnavigation, and he wandered. He found himself in Madrid. Enamored by his commanding and charming presence, minister Don Mariano Luis de Urquijo convinced him to explore South America. He gets a ship and with a special passport from King Charles II he sets off to travel through Spain's lands in the New World.

He and his French colleague, Aimé Bonpland, explored Central and South America for about four years, spending one year in Mexico and three months in Cuba. On this trip he discovered electric eels, and nearly electrocuted himself experimenting with them. He climbed what was then believed to be the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Chimborazo (in modern Ecuador), reaching a then world record altitude of 19,286 feet (5,878 m). He mapped the Orinoco River, finding the position where it forks from the Amazon. Everywhere he went, he mapped, he studied, he collected. His curiosity seems boundless. Through all his scientific work he had the eye out for the practical, such as when he advanced the idea that bird crap, guano, would make a great fertilizer. All through his travels he is popular, and was even asked by the Mexican government to stay in Mexico as a member of the cabinet.

Ahh, but Paris was in his future. After stopping in Washington D. C., where he started a friendship with President Jefferson, he went on to live in Paris for about 20 years. Here is a self portrait while in Paris in 1815.

From von Humboldt

During this time he published many volumes about his explorations. He came up with theories in the diverse fields of botany, geography, astronomy. He was the first to use isothermic lines on maps to describe the importance of local environment on the local vegetation. He came up with the term "magnetic storms" to describe disturbance in the earth's magnetic field.

Most importantly he was a great popularizer of science and studies of the natural world. Darwin is quoted as calling him "the greatest traveling scientist who ever lived." It is estimated he answered over 50,000 letters that requested his knowledge on the natural world. His public talks were like modern rock events in their popularity. His name is affixed to cities and counties across the Americas. He is even so cool that he has a penguin named after him. Popular in zoo's everywhere, the Humboldt penguin.