Lewis David von Schweinitz
Encyclopedia
Lewis David de Schweinitz (13 February 1780 - 8 February 1834) was a German-American botanist and mycologist. He is considered by some the "Father of North American Mycology", but also made significant contributions to botany.
community at Nazareth, Pennsylvania
, where he remained for 11 years and was a successful and industrious student. Schweinitz later entered the Theological seminary
at Niesky
(Prussia
) in 1798. In 1805, he published the Conspectus Fungorum in Lusatiae in collaboration with his teacher, Professor J.B. Albertini
.
), then subsequently to Gnadau
to work as a preacher in the Moravian church. A work appointment in the United States led him on a route through Denmark
and Sweden
, to avoid Napoleon's operations. This path allowed him to meet with some of the academics at the University of Kiel in Holstein
, where he was bestowed with an honorary Ph.D.
"in absentia, for his work as an administrator, his cultivation of natural science, and the Conspectus".
), North Carolina
, working as an administrator of church estates. (He lived in what had been built as the Dr. Samuel Benjamin Vierling House which is now an exhibit building open for public tours.) The results of his mycological research in this location would later be published as Synopsis Fungorum Carolinæ Superioris in 1822. This work was edited by Christian Friedrich Schwaegrichen who, by a printer's error, was misnamed on the title page. The identity of the editor has been a source of confusion ever since. Schweinitz was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society
in 1817.
Phaeolus schweinitzii
is named in his honor. While a resident of Salem he was elected president of the University of North Carolina
, which honor he declined because it involved relinquishing work in the Moravian church. In 1821 he returned to his native village in Pennsylvania and continued his studies until his death. He described Dibotryon morbosum
(Schwein.) Theiss. & Syd., 1915, as well as Cantherellus (now Gomphus) floccosus
in 1832.
His herbarium
, which comprised at the time of his death the largest private collection of plants in the United States, he bequeathed to the Academy of Natural Sciences
at Philadelphia. His birthplace, the Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence
, is a National Historic Landmark
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
.
Schweinitz' three works on American fungi contain a total of 4,491 species; of these, 1,533 were described as new and 10 new genera were established.
Education
In 1787 Schweinitz was placed in the institution of the MoravianMoravians (ethnic group)
Moravians are the modern West Slavic inhabitants of the historical land of Moravia, the easternmost part of the Czech Republic, which includes the Moravian Slovakia. They speak the two main groups of Moravian dialects , the transitional Bohemian-Moravian dialect subgroup and standard Czech...
community at Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Nazareth is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 6,023 at the 2000 census.Nazareth is located seven miles northwest of Easton, four miles north of Bethlehem and twelve miles northeast of Allentown...
, where he remained for 11 years and was a successful and industrious student. Schweinitz later entered the Theological seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at Niesky
Niesky
Niesky is a small town in Upper Lusatia in eastern the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 11,000 and is part of the district of Görlitz....
(Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
) in 1798. In 1805, he published the Conspectus Fungorum in Lusatiae in collaboration with his teacher, Professor J.B. Albertini
Johannes Baptista von Albertini
Johannes Baptista von Albertini was a German botanist and clergyman of the Moravian Church. He was born in the town of Neuwied....
.
Early career
In 1807 he went to Gnadenberg (in SilesiaSilesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
), then subsequently to Gnadau
Gnadau
Gnadau is a village and a former municipality in the district Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Barby. It was founded as a settlement of the Moravian Church in the 18th Century and is seat of a number of diaconal institutions. The name means...
to work as a preacher in the Moravian church. A work appointment in the United States led him on a route through Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, to avoid Napoleon's operations. This path allowed him to meet with some of the academics at the University of Kiel in Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, where he was bestowed with an honorary Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
"in absentia, for his work as an administrator, his cultivation of natural science, and the Conspectus".
Return to the United States
After returning to the United States in 1812, he settled in Salem, North Carolina (now called Old SalemOld Salem
Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It features a living history museum that interprets the restored Moravian community. The non-profit organization began its work in 1950, although some private residents had restored buildings earlier...
), North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, working as an administrator of church estates. (He lived in what had been built as the Dr. Samuel Benjamin Vierling House which is now an exhibit building open for public tours.) The results of his mycological research in this location would later be published as Synopsis Fungorum Carolinæ Superioris in 1822. This work was edited by Christian Friedrich Schwaegrichen who, by a printer's error, was misnamed on the title page. The identity of the editor has been a source of confusion ever since. Schweinitz was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1817.
Honors and later career
He was a member of various learned societies in the United States, Germany, and France. A new genus of plant was named Schweinitzia in his honor, and the polyporePolypore
Polypores are a group of tough, leathery poroid mushrooms similar to boletes, but typically lacking a distinct stalk. The technical distinction between the two types of mushrooms is that polypores do not have the spore-bearing tissue continuous along the entire underside of the mushroom. Many...
Phaeolus schweinitzii
Phaeolus schweinitzii
Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore,Norway Chicken, or dyer's mazegill, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch. P...
is named in his honor. While a resident of Salem he was elected president of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, which honor he declined because it involved relinquishing work in the Moravian church. In 1821 he returned to his native village in Pennsylvania and continued his studies until his death. He described Dibotryon morbosum
Dibotryon morbosum
Dibotryon morbosum or Apiosporina morbosa is a plant pathogen, which is the causal agent of black knot. It affects the cherry, plum and apricot trees of North America...
(Schwein.) Theiss. & Syd., 1915, as well as Cantherellus (now Gomphus) floccosus
Gomphus floccosus
Gomphus floccosus, sometimes known as the shaggy-, scaly-, or woolly chanterelle or woolly gomphus, is a cantharelloid mushroom. The genus has been determined to be polyphyletic, which will more than likely lead to this species being renamed in the future...
in 1832.
His herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
, which comprised at the time of his death the largest private collection of plants in the United States, he bequeathed to the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
at Philadelphia. His birthplace, the Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence
Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence
Gemeinhaus-Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence, also known as the Moravian Museum, is a house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Built to house the married couples of the Moravian community as well as the community's place of worship, the Saal, it is the oldest surviving building in Bethlehem, the...
, is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
.
Selected publications
- Albertini, J. B. de, Schweinitz, L.D. de. (1805). Conspectus Fungorum in Lusatiæ superioris agro Nieskiensi crescentium e methodo Persooniana. Cum tabulis XII, æneis pictis, species nova XCIII sistendibus. Leipsic.
- Schweinitz, L. D. de. (1822). Synopsis Fungorum Carolinae Superioris. edita a D.(sic) F. Schwaegrichen. Soc. nat. cur. Lips. 4:20-132.
- _________________ (1825). Description of a number of new American species of Sphaeriae. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 5:3-17.
- _________________ (1832). Synopsis Fungorum in America Boreali Media Digentium. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. of Phil. N. S. 4:141-318.
Schweinitz' three works on American fungi contain a total of 4,491 species; of these, 1,533 were described as new and 10 new genera were established.
External links
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/libr/Scweb5.htm