Johann Ernst Hebenstreit
Encyclopedia
Johann Ernst Hebenstreit (January 15, 1703 – December 5, 1757) was a German physician and naturalist
who was born in Neustadt an der Orla
.
He was a student at the University of Leipzig
, where in 1728 he earned his philosophy degree, and in 1729 his medical doctorate. 1731 he became a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
In 1731 he was appointed by Augustus II
to head an expedition to Africa to collect natural history
specimens and to procure wild animals for the royal menagerie
. After Augustus' death in 1733, the mission was discontinued, and Hebenstreit returned to Leipzig
as a professor of medicine and anatomy
. During the turmoil of the 1849 May Uprising in Dresden
the specimens collected from the African expedition were lost.
Among Hebenstreits' numerous written works was an influential 1751 study of forensic medicine called Anthropologia Forensis sistens medici circa rempublicam, and an illustrated catalogue involving the collection of minerals, fossils, and gems assembled by Leipzig banker Johann Christoph Richter (1689–1751) called Museum Richterianum continens fossilia animalia, vegetabilia marina. Carl Linnaeus named the plant genus Hebenstreitia in honor of Hebenstreit.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
who was born in Neustadt an der Orla
Neustadt an der Orla
Neustadt an der Orla is a town in Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in Thuringia. It is situated at the small river Orla, 17 km north of Schleiz, and 25 km southeast of Jena.-Setting:...
.
He was a student at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where in 1728 he earned his philosophy degree, and in 1729 his medical doctorate. 1731 he became a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
In 1731 he was appointed by Augustus II
Augustus II the Strong
Frederick Augustus I or Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ....
to head an expedition to Africa to collect 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...
specimens and to procure wild animals for the royal menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
. After Augustus' death in 1733, the mission was discontinued, and Hebenstreit returned to Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
as a professor of medicine and anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
. During the turmoil of the 1849 May Uprising in Dresden
May Uprising in Dresden
The May Uprising took place in Dresden, Germany in 1849; it was one of the last of the series of events known as the Revolutions of 1848.-Events leading to the May Uprising:...
the specimens collected from the African expedition were lost.
Among Hebenstreits' numerous written works was an influential 1751 study of forensic medicine called Anthropologia Forensis sistens medici circa rempublicam, and an illustrated catalogue involving the collection of minerals, fossils, and gems assembled by Leipzig banker Johann Christoph Richter (1689–1751) called Museum Richterianum continens fossilia animalia, vegetabilia marina. Carl Linnaeus named the plant genus Hebenstreitia in honor of Hebenstreit.