Ernst Boll
Encyclopedia
Ernst Friedrich August Boll (September 21, 1817, Neubrandenburg
January 20, 1868) was a German naturalist
and historian
. He was a brother to historian
Franz Boll
(1805–1875), with whom he worked with on numerous projects. Ernst Boll is remembered for his extensive research involving the natural history
of Mecklenburg
.
He studied theology
and sciences in Bonn
and Berlin
, and following graduation in 1842, became a private tutor in the town of Friedland. In 1846 he was a founding member of Vereins der Freunde der Naturgeschichte Mecklenburg (Association of Friends of Natural History of Mecklenburg), of which he was editor of the groups' archives from 1847 until his death in 1868. In this position he penned many scientific articles on geology
, petrography
, zoology
and botany
. One of his more important writings was a treatise concerning history of the Mecklenburg region titled Die Geschichte Mecklenburgs, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Culturgeschichte.
Boll was politically active and a supporter of liberal issues. He was a prominent member of the 1848 Neubrandenburger Reformbewegung (Neubrandenburg Reform Movement), and through this confederation became a good friend to novelist Fritz Reuter
(1810–1874). After his death in 1868, his large collection of rocks and fossils were donated to the Neubrandenburg Museum, and are now part of the Natural History Collection of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
in Müritzeum
, near the city of Waren
.
Since 1992 the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
has issued the Ernst-Boll-Umweltpreis (Ernst Boll Environment Prize).
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee ....
January 20, 1868) was a German naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. He was a brother to historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Franz Boll
Franz Boll (historian)
Franz Boll was a Lutheran theologian and historian. He was the father of physiologist Franz Christian Boll , and the brother of naturalist Ernst Boll , with whom he collaborated throughout his career.He studied theology in Halle, Berlin and Rostock, and in 1835 returned to Neubrandenburg as a...
(1805–1875), with whom he worked with on numerous projects. Ernst Boll is remembered for his extensive research involving the natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
.
He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and sciences in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and following graduation in 1842, became a private tutor in the town of Friedland. In 1846 he was a founding member of Vereins der Freunde der Naturgeschichte Mecklenburg (Association of Friends of Natural History of Mecklenburg), of which he was editor of the groups' archives from 1847 until his death in 1868. In this position he penned many scientific articles on geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, petrography
Petrography
Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the...
, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. One of his more important writings was a treatise concerning history of the Mecklenburg region titled Die Geschichte Mecklenburgs, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Culturgeschichte.
Boll was politically active and a supporter of liberal issues. He was a prominent member of the 1848 Neubrandenburger Reformbewegung (Neubrandenburg Reform Movement), and through this confederation became a good friend to novelist Fritz Reuter
Fritz Reuter
Fritz Reuter was a novelist from Northern Germany who was one of the most prominent contributors to Low German literature.-Early life:...
(1810–1874). After his death in 1868, his large collection of rocks and fossils were donated to the Neubrandenburg Museum, and are now part of the Natural History Collection of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a federal state in northern Germany. The capital city is Schwerin...
in Müritzeum
Müritzeum
Müritzeum is a visitors center and a nature discovery center at Lake Müritz, near Müritz National Park and close to the city of Waren in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.-Design:...
, near the city of Waren
Waren
Waren is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, capital of the former Müritz district . It is situated on the northern end of Lake Müritz, approximately 40 km west of Neubrandenburg.-Early history:...
.
Since 1992 the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a federal state in northern Germany. The capital city is Schwerin...
has issued the Ernst-Boll-Umweltpreis (Ernst Boll Environment Prize).
Selected publications
- Geognosie der deutschen Ostseeländer zwischen Eider und Oder (Geognosy of the German Baltic Countries between the Eider and Oder Rivers), 1846
- Abriß der physischen Geographie (Summary of Physical Geography), 1850
- Die Insel Rügen (The Island of Rügen), 1858
- Flora von Mecklenburg (Flora of Mecklenburg), 1860
- Abriß der Mecklenburg (Summary of Mecklenburg), 1861
- Die Geschichte Mecklenburgs, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Culturgeschichte (The History of Mecklenburg, with Particular Attention to Cultural History) 1855–1856, two volumes.