Johann Wilhelm von Müller

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Johann Wilhelm von Müller (also: John von Müller ; * March 4, 1824 in Kochersteinsfeld ; † October 24, 1866 there ) was a German zoologist , explorer and author .

Life

Johann Wilhelm von Müller was the grandson of the banker Johannes von Müller , who had achieved the title of nobility and acquired Kochersteinsfeld Castle , where Johann was born in 1824. In 1861 he married Maria von Lücken , the marriage remained childless.

Müller studied at the universities of Bonn , Heidelberg and Jena . In the years 1845 to 1849 he made trips through Algiers , Morocco and Egypt , where he was interested in the local fauna, especially the bird world. From 1847 he had the young (and later famous for his " animal life ") Alfred Brehm as his secretary. In addition to animals, he also brought the girl Fathme and the boys Araki and Abdallah with him from his travels, whom the Egyptian viceroy is said to have given him.

Further trips took him to North America and Mexico in 1856 - here the astronomer August Sonntag was his secretary - and to Spain in 1864/65 . Several writings were written on the travels, including 1853 contributions on the ornithology of Africa and a three-volume travel report from his trip to America.

In the 1850s he became the Austro-Hungarian Consul General for Khartoum , Sudan and all of Central Africa. In connection with this he was raised to the baron status. In 1849 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina .

Johann Wilhelm von Müller was buried in the family crypt in Kochersteinsfeld.

Appreciation

The sapphire pint ( Merops muelleri ) from the bee-eater family was named after him.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Müller, Johann Wilhelm von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Müller, John von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German explorer and writer
DATE OF BIRTH March 4, 1824
PLACE OF BIRTH Stone hob
DATE OF DEATH October 24, 1866
Place of death Stone hob