Wilhelm von Nathusius (zoologist)

Wilhelm Engelhard von Nathusius (1821–1899)

Wilhelm Engelhard Nathusius , since 1861 by Nathusius , (born June 27, 1821 in Hundisburg , † December 25, 1899 in Halle an der Saale ) was a farmer and member of the Prussian House of Representatives . He was also an animal scientist and well-known oologist of his time.

Life

Wilhelm von Nathusius was the sixth of eight children of the industrialist and landowner Johann Gottlob Nathusius . The ancestors of the Nathusius family lived in Upper and Lower Lusatia .

His mother was Luise, née Engelhard (1787–1875), a daughter of Philipp Engelhard (1753–1818), a councilor of war in Kassel, and the poet Philippine Engelhard , née Gatterer. Nathusius' great-grandfather was the polymath and historian Johann Christoph Gatterer .

Among Nathusius' siblings were the breeders and politicians Hermann von Nathusius and Heinrich von Nathusius , Philipp von Nathusius , founder of the Neinstedter Anstalten and husband of the writer Marie Nathusius , the farmer and animal breeder August von Nathusius and the founder of the Elisabethstift in Neinstedt, Johanne Nathusius .

Childhood and youth

Nathusius was born in his father's Hundisburger Schloss , but spent his childhood on the neighboring estate of Althaldensleben, as his parents preferred to live there from the early 1820s. Like his siblings, he received lessons from the tutor Julius Carl Elster (1803–1881). His brother Hermann, who was twelve years older than him, introduced him to the precision of scientific work.

education

Since Nathusius' father had determined that he should take over the family's porcelain and earthenware factories , he was entrusted with administrative tasks from the age of 14 - under the guidance of the French porcelain specialist Alexandre Brongniart . In 1838 Nathusius traveled to Paris to study chemistry with the well-known Professor Jean-Baptiste Dumas - also in preparation for the later planned management of the two factories. Interrupted by completing his military service with the Guard Uhlans in Berlin in 1840 (later rank: Rittmeister retired), he continued his chemistry studies in Berlin from 1841. Since his father's porcelain factory did not seem viable due to increasing competition, Nathusius soon decided to devote himself to agriculture.

Königsborn Castle in the 19th century from the courtyard side (east). At the beginning of the 20th century, a square entrance hall was built in place of the originally existing straight staircase .

Castle from the garden side (west) in April 2009

Königsborn

The castle and estate in Königsborn near Magdeburg, a rococo building from the 18th century, built by the wealthy Magdeburg merchant and war councilor Christoph Goßler , was bought by Johann Gottlob Nathusius in 1834. The property included the Königsborner Rittergut (which presumably goes back to a monastery property of the Magdeburg Monastery of Our Dear Women in the 13th century) as well as an independent farm in Wahlitz (near Menz ). Both properties were leased until they were taken over by Wilhelm von Nathusius.

Castle owner and landlord

After the death of his father, reaching the age of majority and the subsequent complicated division of the estate, Wilhelm von Nathusius took over the Königsborn estate in 1843. Under him, the renovation and partial reconstruction of the palace took place, which gave the entire Königsborn ensemble (manor and palace) an architectural and art-historical significance. From 1844 until the sale of the Königsborn property in 1889, Nathusius lived there and always accommodated many guests.

In the years 1846/1847 the poet August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben , who was politically persecuted at the time, made a long visit at the invitation of Nathusius (whom he knew through his brother Philipp). Hoffmann von Fallersleben fell in love with a childhood friend of the housewife, Elvira Detroit, in Nathusius's castle. As a result, there was an exchange of letters between Detroit and the poet, which shows Hoffmann's desire to give up his unsteady life in Germany and emigrate to Texas. Detroit stopped him. Hoffmann von Fallersleben also wrote some poems in Königsborn, including " Elschen "

Together with his wife Marie, Nathusius turned in the Königsborn years to a strongly pietistic faith, which found expression in charitable activities for villagers and farm workers. The living standard of the workers was improved, a rescue house for children and the elderly was established, and a school was built.

Farmer and breeder

The Königsborner Gut comprised around 500 hectares of agriculture, the Vorwerk in Wahlitz, which was mainly used as pastureland, was about the same size. Nathusius managed the two estates with the support of administrators for around 40 years, in addition to his practical work through scientific studies and their publications, he decisively influenced the development of agriculture of his time. As a farmer with a wide range of interests and commitment, his publications reflect the breadth of his activities, which concern new types of cultivation (maize, Jerusalem artichoke , lupins , fodder beet), guano and green manure or drainage .

Furthermore, Nathusius reported on the results of the use of new machines, especially on the operation of the first steam plow in Prussia, which was used and tested on Königsborn in 1863/64. He also published about his experiences in animal breeding, especially concerning the heavy "step horses". He devoted publications to the licensing regulations , the racing test and various horse diseases.

Investigations on trichinae led him to the microscope as early as 1863. Nathusius treated the wool of the sheep and its properties fundamentally; the best-known work on these investigations is " The woolly hair of the sheep in histological and technical relationship " from 1865. Finally he dealt with dairy cows, animal diseases and their control.

Journal for ornithology from September 1872 with an article by Wilhelm Engelhard von Nathusius

Oologist

Even if Nathusius was primarily committed to improvements in animal breeding and agriculture, his special passion was oology, a science that was in its infancy at the time. The doctrine of eggshells was not taken seriously by ornithology for a long time, and it was only after it was able to provide ornithology with important information, especially in the creation of systematics, that it was recognized as a fully justified sub-science of ornithology.

Nathusius published his first research report in 1868 (in the journal for the entire natural sciences ) and is one of the pioneers of scientific oology. Although it was still difficult in his time to publish articles (especially those with explanatory drawings) on oological topics in specialist ornithological magazines, by the time he died he was able to publish more than 30 oological articles - mostly in the Journal for Ornithology , which still exists today . In 1868 he suggested chemically examining eggshell structures, and in 1871 his collection already comprised 60 species with around 600 units. In 1884 he reported on experiments with polarized light.

Later gave Nathusius collections on eggshells of ostrich then- kk Hof-kind cabinets in Vienna and the Imperial Zoological Museum in Berlin.

Paleo-oology

Nathusius was a co-founder of paleo- oology, a branch of oology that enables conclusions to be drawn about developments and relationships by comparing fossil and today's egg structures. He made a distinction based on the Vogel classification of the paleontologist Christoph Gottfried Giebel, who also worked in Halle .

Controversy

Nathusius was always a polite and appreciative colleague when presenting his research results and in correspondence with other scientists. However, as soon as he recognized theories that seemed wrong to him, he openly criticized them in his publications. Over the years he took on a number of positions that turned out to be wrong in retrospect.

In his studies of non-cellular organisms, namely crustacean shells , mollusc shells and egg shells from 1877, he saw the contemporary cell theory refuted. In his opinion, his resistance to this fundamental knowledge of biology, which later finally prevailed, made it difficult for him to publish. He also created opponents with his opposition to the prevailing views of monism at the time.

Like his brother Hermann, who worked in Hundisburg, he was also an avowed “anti-Darwinist”. The well-known ornithologist Erwin Stresemann even describes him in his work The Development of Ornithology from Aristotle to the Present as a particularly zealous opponent of Darwin among ornithologists.

Public offices

In addition to his scientific work, Nathusius always tried to put knowledge into practice. He was a member of the Agricultural Central Association of the Province of Saxony , where he contributed his experience from studies on horses to the Scientific Deputation and the Central Deputation for the promotion of horse breeding . In addition, from 1869 he was the director of the association for an uninterrupted 26 years - until it was converted into the Provincial Saxon Chamber of Agriculture in 1896.

Nathusius was appointed to the Royal Prussian State Economic College in 1852 . He held this position until 1878. He has also been a member of the German Agricultural Society since it was founded . From 1890 he was a member of the DLG Board of Directors. Nathusius was a member of the Association for the Acquisition of Noble Half-Bred Mares and, together with his brother Hermann, he tried to produce illustrative material for animal breeders in the region.

For his services to agriculture, he was appointed to the state economics council. He was also a secret councilor . Nathusius was a member of the Provincial Diet . From 1855 to 1859 he represented the Jerichow district as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives . Here he belonged to the faction of the Conservative Party around the brothers Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach and Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach .

For his achievements he was raised to the Prussian nobility on October 18, 1861.

For many years he was dike captain in his home district. As early as 1877, Nathusius had been in charge of the boys' rescue house he had founded in Königsborn (after the sale of Königsborn it was moved to Wahlitz). In 1884, after the death of his brother August, he also took on the role of chairman of the board of the Neinstedter Anstalten.

Retirement

Since he could not pursue his scientific studies to the desired extent by managing his two estates, Nathusius sold the castle and estate Königsborn in 1889 and handed the estate Wahlitz to his eldest son (Hubertus Engelhard von Nathusius, 1852-1931). He himself moved to Halle / Saale, where he lived a life devoted to his scientific studies and writing for ten years. He sponsored the experimental station of the agricultural training institute of the University of Halle and participated in their investigations. Nathusius died in Halle in 1899 and was buried in the cemetery in Menz he founded at the side of his wife, who had died 21 years earlier. His tombstone was later placed in the family cemetery in Althaldensleben. His life's work has been recognized in many obituaries.

Picture of Marie Johanne von Meibom during the engagement time with Wilhelm Engelhard von Nathusius

family

On June 6, 1844, Nathusius married Marie Johanne von Meibom (1820–1878), a daughter of the Prussian major a. D. Friedrich-Wilhelm von Meibom (Ballenstedt) and his wife Friederike, née von Leckeny. The couple had six children, including the writer Elsbeth von Nathusius , the portrait painter Susanne Philippine (1850-1929), the aforementioned Hubertus Engelhard von Nathusius and the later major general Wilhelm Engelhard von Nathusius .

A grandson of Nathusius was Wilhelm Gottlob von Nathusius and a great-nephew was Gottlob Karl von Nathusius , who was also known in the field of ornithology.

Works (selection)

• About property tax . Memorandum, F. Heinicke, Berlin 1859.
• Diary of the experiments with the Fowler steam plow. In: Journal of the Agricultural Central Association of the Province of Saxony. Volume 21, 1864, pp. 178-181.
• About the eggshells of Aeptornis, Dinornis, Apteryx, and some Crypturids.
• Remarks on the shape and dimensions of the sheep's woolen hair and the methods of determining them, along with an addendum on wool weight . Hendel, Halle 1864.
• The wool hair of the sheep in histological and technical relation, with comparative consideration of other hair and skin . Wiegandt and Hempel, Berlin 1865.
• Blackboards for science lessons . 2 plates, 1871.
• Wool studies, blackboards for science lessons with special considerations for agriculture . 1873.
• About the recovery of the wool after the factory washing . Publishing house of the bookstore of the orphanage, Halle 1874.
• Investigations into non-cellular organisms, namely crustacean shells, mollusc shells and egg shells . Wiegandt, Hempel & Parey, Berlin 1877 doi: 10.5962 / bhl.title.11412
• About the sheaths surrounding the yolk of the bird's egg and supplements.
• The prohibitive licensing regulations, their legal admissibility, etc. economic importance . Parey, Berlin 1881.
• On the importance of weight determinations and measurements of the thickness of the shells of avian eggs. In: Journal for Ornithology. Volume 30, No. 2, 1882.
• The agricultural conditions in the area. In: Festschrift for the participants of the 57th meeting of German natural scientists and doctors in Magdeburg. Magdeburg 1884.
• Johanne Philippine Nathusius, given from her life . Wagner, Quedlinburg 1885.
• Investigations on Harting's bodies . 1889.
• Treatises on the Formation of the Eggs of Birds and Reptiles . Leipzig 1889-1892.
• The processes of inheritance in pets . Paul Parey, Berlin 1891.
• The development of the shell and shell skin of the hen's egg in the Oviduct . 1893.
• About the structural relationships of wool hair with reference to Kohlschmidt's discussion of the Breslau trial hurling and the latter itself . 1893.
• About hair shapes and colors of equidae as criteria of inheritance, especially in hybrids. Reprint from: Agricultural yearbooks . Paul Parey, Berlin 1897, p. 318 ff.

Translations

• Pamphlets on birds' eggs . 1882-1895
• Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821–1899, On avian eggshells . A translated and edited version of his work by Cyril Tyler: The University Reading . Reading (England) 1964.

References and comments

1. ↑ according to Nathusius (1840, 1861), IV line (Königsborn), Wilhelm Engelhard v. Nathusius. In: Genealogical manual of the nobility . Volume 57 of the complete series, Adelige Häuser B, Volume XI, CA Starke Verlag, Limburg ad Lahn, 1974, p. 317.
2. ↑ Cyril Tyler describes him in his summary of the work of Nathusius as a " remarkable man " (in connection with his achievements in researching the eggshell structure) and " well ahead of his time " (in connection with the number of publications), according to Cyril Tyler: Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821–1899, On avian eggshells ... see bibliography (p. 2 and 5)
3. ^ Jochen Engelhard von Nathusius (Meyendorf): Julius Carl Elster (1803–1881) - educator of the Nathusius children . Meschede 2007/08
4. ↑ Johann Gottlob Nathusius bought the goods from the family of Eleonore Countess von Chasôt (1797–1846), born von Gansauge , daughter of Abraham von Gansauge, formerly the owner of Königsborn, daughter-in-law of Ludwig von Chasôt . Family relationships according to Hans Saring:  Chasôt, Ludwig von. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 3, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1957, ISBN 3-428-00184-2 , p. 195 ( digitized version ).
5. ↑ according to an information ( Memento of 3 March 2012 at the Internet Archive ) on the website of the Family Association of Families Nathusius and Nathusius
6. ↑ according to PDF document ( Memento of the original from October 20, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. the Central and State Library Berlin . here: Alexander Duncker: Königsborn. In: The rural residences, castles and residences of the knightly landowners in the Prussian monarchy together with the royal family, house fideicommiss and casket goods in lifelike, artistically executed, colored representations and accompanying text. Duncker, Berlin 1857–1883. 
7. ↑ according to ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: website ) of the Förderverein Historisches Museum der Rittergüter im Jerichower Land Schloss Parchen eV
8. ↑ according to Hoffmann and the women , on the von-fallersleben.de website
9. ↑ according to Andreas Reichstein: German pioneers on the American frontier. The Wagners in Texas and Illinois . University of North Texas Press, Denton (Texas) 2001, ISBN 1-57441-134-9 , p. 32.
10. ^ Elschen (September 19, 1847), Mariechen (September 19, 1847) and Für Elsbeth Nathusius (September 1847), according to Detlef Gärtner: The whole park was poetic enough for me. Althaldensleben-Hundisburg. In the mirror of 19th century literature. KULTUR-Landschaft Haldensleben-Hundisburg eV (Ed.), Haldensleben-Hundisburg 1997, p. 134 ff.
11. ↑ Lilly von Nathusius: Johann Gottlob Nathusius ..., see bibliography, p. 148.
12. ↑ according to Heinz Nowak: Nathusius, Wilhelm Engelhard von. see bibliography
13. ↑ a common name for heavy draft horses at the time, usually cold-blooded horses
14. ↑ Wilhelm von Nathusius (Königsborn): About the inner structure of some goose eggs with double yolks, along with some further remarks about species differences in eggshells. In: Journal of Ornithology. No. 119, September 1872, 20th year, Cassel, Leipzig and Berlin 1872, pp. 321–332.
15. ↑ Egg (oology) . In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon . 4th edition. Volume 5, Verlag des Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig / Vienna 1885–1892, p. 352.
16. ↑ so many prepared drawings for the article About the species relations of the ostriches living in German East Africa. In: Journal for Ornithology. 1898, No. 46, pp. 505-524 cannot be reprinted
17. ↑ according to Wilhelm von Nathusius: About the finer structure of the so-called coverings of certain bird eggs (namely of Crotophaga , Pelecanus , Carbo and Sula), as well as their relation to the upper skins of other eggshells, with microscopic demonstrations. In: Tageblatt for the gathering of natural scientists and doctors in Magdeburg. No. 57, 1884, pp. 89-93.
18. ↑ He himself described the cabinets as the Imperial and Royal Zoological Museum
19. ↑ according to Wilhelm von Nathusius: About the structure of the Moa eggshells from New Zealand and the importance of the eggshell structure for the system. P. 127.
20. ↑ later in the Berlin Museum of Natural History incorporated
21. ↑ according to Wilhelm von Nathusius: The structure of the bird-egg and its relation to the systematics. In: Journal of Ornithology. No. 19, 1871, p. 260.
22. ^ “ Nathusius von Königsborn (1821–1899) was the first to employ fossil material in his study of the eggshell structure ”, gem. Cyril Tyler: Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821–1899, On avian eggshells ..., see bibliography, and “ Palaeo-oology is the study of fossil and modern eggs. Palaeo-oology has successfully been developing in many different scientific fields since 1868 Wilhelm von Nathusius described the first microstructures from modern eggshells; such ... ”according to the description of the Palaeo-oological Discussion Group at Yahoo Groups
23. ↑ “ He disliked negative polemics and preferred the exchanges to be friendly ...” according to Cyril Tyler: Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821–1899, On avian eggshells ..., see bibliography, p. 3.
24. ^ So Nathusius justified delays in publications due to his opposition to the cell theory, according to Wilhelm von Nathusius: To the oology of the Rhea species. In: Journal of Ornithology. No. 19, 1896, p. 266.
25. ↑ His biographer Tyler describes him as such (according to Cyril Tyler: Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821–1899, On avian eggshells ..., see bibliography), based on statements in: Wilhelm von Nathusius: Considerations about the selection theory from the standpoint of oology out. In: Journal of Ornithology. No. 27, 1879, pp. 225–261, as well as: Wilhelm von Nathusius: Investigations of egg shells, namely by Osisthocomus , Turnix , and the so-called coatings in steganopods and other eggs, along with remarks on the importance of these structures. In: Journal of Ornithology. No. 30, 1882, pp. 255-315.
26. ↑ according to an English translation of the corresponding passage in the Stresemann book
27. ↑ originally founded by Karl Eduard Zachariae von Lingenthal in Großkmehlen , later moved to Halle
28. ↑ As an example in the obituary of the Chamber of Agriculture in Halle : “During the time of his activity, agriculture in our province experienced a tremendous boom in all of its branches, for which Wilhelm von Nathusius and ... have made a great contribution. The profound scientific formation of Wilhelm von Nathusius be distinguished and friendly character, his gentleness, conciliatory way of thinking, especially his zeal and the full unselfish devotion to the duties of his office always have the recognition and gratitude assured him of all professional colleagues. " Gem. Obituary for Wilhelm von Nathusius (Königsborn). Halle Chamber of Agriculture, Halle 1899.
29. ↑ according to Wolfgang Ollrog (arrangement): Johann Christoph Gatterer, the founder of scientific genealogy. In: Archives for kin research and all related areas with practical research assistance. Volume 47, Issue 81/82, February 1981, CA Starke Verlag, Limburg, 1981, No. 3.4.6, p. 45 and No. 3.4.6.1 ff, p. 56.

literature

• Rudolf Behmer: Wilhelm Engelhard von Nathusius-Königsborn. In: German agricultural press. No. 27, 1900, pp. 55f.
• Anton Bettelheim (Hrsg.): Biographisches Jahrbuch and German Nekrolog . Volume 4, Berlin 1900.
• Ludwig Gebhardt: The ornithologists of Central Europe . 1964, p. 254.
• Max Güntz: Handbook of agricultural literature . 1902. Reprint: Topos, 1977, ISBN 3-289-00124-5 , p. 271
• Bernd Haunfelder : Biographical manual for the Prussian House of Representatives 1849–1867. (= Manuals on the history of parliamentarism and political parties ). Droste, Düsseldorf 1994.
• Meyers Konversations-Lexikon . Volume 14, No. 61908, 1888, pp. 441 f. and No. 18650, p. 12.1 f.
• Heinrich von Mendel-Steinfels: Festschrift of the Agricultural Central Association of the Province of Saxony . 1893.
• Christian Mommsen : Development of horse breeding and the horse breeding association of the province of Saxony. The most important bloodlines of the breeding district so far. Published for the 25th anniversary of the Horse Breeding Association of the Province of Saxony. 1924.
• Elsbeth von Nathusius: Memories of Johanne Nathusius . Gebauer and Schwetschke , Halle / Saale 1907.
• Jochen von Nathusius, Christine Keßler: Johann Gottlob Nathusius (1760–1835) and his descendants up to the sixth generation as well as his nephew Moritz Nathusius (1815–1886) and his descendants up to the fifth generation. Ed .: Association of the families of Nathusius and Nathusius eV (Kassel): Hanover (print), Meschede and Mülheim an der Ruhr 2010, pp. 255–257. (updated new edition of: Lilly von Nathusius, Johann Gottlob Nathusius and his descendants and his nephew Moritz Nathusius with his descendants (family chronicle), Detmold 1964)
• Martin von Nathusius: Wilhelm von Nathusius † on December 25, 1899. In: New Prussian Kreuzzeitung . No. 250, supplement dated May 31, 1900.
• Susanne von Nathusius: Wilhelm von Nathusius (†). In: Agricultural weekly for the province of Saxony. II, 5, 1900, p. 34 f.
• Heinz Nowak : Nathusius, Wilhelm Engelhard von . In: Magdeburg Biographical Lexicon . June 9, 2004 (last change), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg , Magdeburg 2002.
• Konrad zu Putlitz, Lothar Meyer (Ed.): Landlexikon . Volume 4, 1913.
• Cyril Tyler: Wilhelm von Nathusius, 1821-1899, On avian eggshells. A translated and edited version of his work . The University Reading, Reading (England) 1964.

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