Adolf Weiss (botanist)

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Adolf Gustav Weiss (also Adolph Weiss ; born August 26, 1837 in Freiwaldau , Austrian Silesia , † March 17, 1894 in Prague ) was an Austrian botanist and university professor .

Life

Weiss was the son of the doctor Josef Weiss and his wife Josefa, née Vielhauer, and the twin brother of Edmund Weiss , an astronomer and university professor. Weiss moved the family to England in 1841 because his father was building a hydrotherapy facility there. Due to the father's illness, the family returned in 1845. In 1847 the father died. Weiss attended the high school in Troppau from 1847 to 1855 . Even while he was still in high school, he was intensively involved in nature studies and in old age he published his first work, Studies from Nature , which was to enjoy great popularity. In the winter semester of 1855 he came to the University of Vienna , where he devoted himself to studying natural sciences. His main commitment during his studies was general botany, physics and chemistry. In 1858 he received his doctorate as Dr. phil. and in the summer of 1860 he completed his habilitation at the University of Vienna, where he then taught as a private lecturer in physiological botany. In addition to his independent research, he worked with his friend Julius Wiesner .

Weiss went on extensive study and research trips through Greece with his brother Edmund and made various contacts there, for example with the astronomer Julius Schmidt or Theodor von Heldreich . The latter should later be able to get him various plants for the Lemberg Botanical Garden. They were also received there at King Otto's court. Weiss received an assistant position at the Vienna Court Minerals Cabinet in August 1862 and shortly thereafter a call to the University of Lemberg . There he became full professor of botany and director of the botanical garden at the age of 25 . In addition to his research, he distinguished himself as a popular, humorously gifted teacher and talented speaker. He also had a number of successful students. Training in practical microscopy in particular is one of his merits. He undertook various trips during his scientific career, which took him through Europe, North Africa and Russia .

Weiss received another call to the University of Prague in 1871 . There he also became president of the Prague scientific association Lotos . In addition, he was a member or honorary member of various scientific associations and received several medals from various European countries. Of Emperor I. Franz Joseph , he was appointed Imperial Councilor appointed by the Imperial Academy of Sciences as a corresponding member.

Weiss died surprisingly in office.

Works (selection)

  • Studies from nature. With 9 plates , Troppau 1857.
  • The crystal forms of some chemical compounds , Gerold, Vienna 1859.
  • On the behavior of copper oxide ammonia to the membrane of the plant parts, to the cell nuclei and primordial tubes , Gerold, Vienna 1861.
  • Investigations into the development history of the dye in plant cells , kk Hof- und Staatsdruckerrei, Vienna 1864.
  • Plant anatomy. With 2 plates and 267 woodcuts , Braumüller, Vienna 1878.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Constantin von Wurzbach : Weiss, Joseph (Hydropath) . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 54th part. Kaiserlich-Königliche Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna 1886, pp. 122–124 ( digitized version ).
personal data
SURNAME Weiss, Adolf
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Weiss, Adolf Gustaph (full name); White, Adolph
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH August 26, 1837
PLACE OF BIRTH Freiwaldau , Austrian Silesia
DATE OF DEATH March 17, 1894
Place of death Prague