Alexander von Humboldt

Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt (14 September 1769 – 6 May 1859) was a German polymath, geographer, naturalist, and explorer. He was also a supporter of Romantic philosophy and science.

Humboldt helped create the field of biogeography through his work on botanical geography. He started modern geomagnetic and meteorological monitoring by pushing for long-term geophysical measurements.

From 1799 to 1804, Humboldt traveled across the Americas with French explorer Aimé Bonpland. They journeyed through hard-to-reach and unknown places. They discovered where the Orinoco River begins. In 1802, they climbed a very high mountain in Ecuador.

Humboldt used the word cosmos for his major work called Kosmos. In this book, he tried to connect many areas of science and culture. His ideas helped start the study of ecology and thoughts about taking care of our environment, or environmentalism. He was one of the first to explain how human activities could change the climate, based on what he saw during his travels.

Early life, family and education

Alexander von Humboldt was born in Berlin, Prussia, on September 14, 1769. He grew up in a noble family and was raised in the Lutheran faith. His father served in the Prussian Army and passed away when Alexander was young. After that, Alexander and his brother Wilhelm were cared for by their mother.

Schloss Tegel, Berlin, where Alexander and his brother Wilhelm lived for several years

Alexander’s mother wanted the best for her sons. She hired good teachers for them and used money she inherited to help Alexander’s future adventures. Alexander loved collecting plants and insects, which earned him the nickname “the little apothecary”. He studied at the University of Göttingen, where he made friends and learned from great scientists. He also traveled with a naturalist to places like England and France, beginning his journey as an explorer.

Travels and work in Europe

Schiller, Wilhelm, and Alexander von Humboldt with Goethe in Jena

After finishing his studies in 1792, Alexander von Humboldt began working for the government in the mining department in Bayreuth and the Fichtel Mountains. He was very good at his job. In his first year, he helped produce more gold than the past eight years together. Humboldt cared about the miners and opened a free school for them using his own money. He also wanted to create a fund to help miners if they had accidents.

Humboldt’s work on plants in the mines led to a publication. This caught the attention of famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The two became good friends and spent time discussing science and nature. They even did experiments together. Humboldt also joined a group of important thinkers in Weimar Classicism and wrote pieces for their magazine. He traveled through many places, including Vienna, Switzerland, and Italy, preparing for his big adventures ahead.

Spanish American expedition, 1799–1804

Humboldt wanted to go on a big science trip, so he went to Paris to visit his brother Wilhelm. There, he met Aimé Bonpland, a plant expert, and they decided to travel together.

With permission from the Spanish king, Humboldt and Bonpland sailed to Venezuela in 1799. They explored many places, climbing volcanoes and traveling along rivers. They also visited Cuba and the Andes mountains, discovering many things about plants, animals, and the earth.

In Mexico, they studied mines and learned about the country's history and nature. Later, they visited the United States where President Thomas Jefferson welcomed them. Humboldt shared his knowledge about Mexico, which was useful after the U.S. bought new lands from France.

Humboldt kept detailed diaries of his travels. He wrote many books about his discoveries. His work helped scientists understand geography, plants, and weather better. He showed how different parts of nature are connected and made maps and charts to share his findings.

Scholarly and public recognition

Alexander von Humboldt became very famous during his lifetime. Many important groups wanted him to join them. He was invited to groups in America, Britain, and other places.

Humboldt received many honors. After Mexico became independent, leaders there recognized his help. In Berlin, he got a special job that gave him money for his research. He moved there permanently in 1827 and began studying Earth's magnetism. He also gave public talks that inspired many people. Even after he passed away, people celebrated him, showing how much they admired his work.

Expedition in Russia, 1829

In 1811 and again in 1818, Alexander von Humboldt was asked to explore parts of Asia, but those plans didn’t work out. When he was in his sixties, he got another chance to travel. The Russian government invited him to visit the Ural Mountains and asked about using platinum for their money. Humboldt wasn’t sure about the platinum idea, but he was very excited to see the Urals because he had always wanted to travel to Asia.

Humboldt accepted the invitation and planned a big trip. He brought a few friends, including a professor and a scientist to study tiny creatures in lakes and seas. Humboldt also brought many tools to measure things very accurately. The Russian government helped organize the trip, giving him money and arranging for horses and places to stay. Between May and November 1829, Humboldt and his team traveled over 9,614 miles across Russia. They moved quickly, changing horses often, and the group grew to include more people like a cook and some soldiers for safety. Even though the trip was fast, Humboldt made important discoveries, like learning about the height of a big plateau and predicting where diamonds might be found. He wrote about his experiences in books after the trip.

Works

Influence on scientists and artists

Alexander von Humboldt inspired many scientists and artists with his work. He helped young scientists by giving them money, finding jobs, and publishing their research. One of these scientists, Louis Agassiz, became very famous.

Humboldt's books and ideas influenced famous people like Charles Darwin. Artists also loved Humboldt's work. Painters such as Johann Moritz Rugendas, Ferdinand Bellermann, and Frederic Edwin Church traveled to Latin America to paint landscapes. Church's painting called The Heart of the Andes became very famous.

Humboldt even helped Ida Laura Pfeiffer, one of the first women to travel around the world twice, by giving her letters to help her on her journeys. His spirit of discovery encouraged many to explore and study the natural world.

Other aspects of Humboldt's life and career

Humboldt and the Prussian monarchy

During the Napoleonic wars, Prussia had to follow France’s rules after signing the Treaty of Tilsit. The king asked Alexander von Humboldt to help his brother, Prince Wilhelm, when they traveled to Paris. Alexander liked living in Paris more than Berlin. Later, he met with kings and leaders in London, Aachen, and Verona. Even when the king wanted him in Berlin, Alexander took his time getting there.

From 1830 to 1848, he often visited France, meeting with King Louis Philippe and his friends François Arago and François Guizot.

Representation of indigenous population

Humboldt wrote about South America when many nations were claiming new lands. Some think he showed the land as empty and helpful to Europeans. Others believe he spoke out against unfair treatment and supported freedom for local people. He talked about the experiences of local people in his writings.

Religion

Some people wondered if Humboldt believed in a higher power because he didn’t write much about it in his book Cosmos. But Humboldt said he did believe the world was created. He respected different beliefs and spoke against unfair laws.

Sociality

Much of Humboldt's personal life is unknown because he destroyed his private letters. He liked being with people but also enjoyed traveling alone.

Sexuality

Humboldt never married and had many close friendships with both men and women. Some of his friendships with men were very deep. Over time, people have talked about his private life, but historians have different ideas.

Illness and death

In 1857, Humboldt had a health issue but seemed okay. By 1859, his health got worse, and he passed away peacefully in Berlin at age 89. Many people honored him at his funeral.

Honours and namesakes

Many places, animals, and things were named after Alexander von Humboldt after his death. People celebrated his life and work. Many animals and plants carry his name.

Humboldt received many important awards and honors from countries and societies around the world. He was part of many famous groups that supported learning.

Species named after Humboldt

Scientists named many animals and plants after Humboldt because of his important discoveries. Some of these include:

Geographical features named after Humboldt

Several natural places around the world are named after Humboldt, such as:

Humboldt Bay in California
Humboldt Current off the coast of South America
Humboldt River in Nevada
Pico Humboldt in Venezuela

Places named after Humboldt

Many towns, parks, and other places are named after Humboldt, including:

Universities, colleges, and schools

Several schools and universities are named after Humboldt, such as:

Ships

There have been ships named after Humboldt, including one built in 1906 that was later turned into a sailing ship.

Many famous people praised Humboldt’s work, calling him a great scientist and explorer.

Works

Alexander von Humboldt wrote many important books and papers about what he discovered. Some of his most famous works include studies of plants, air, and nature. His big book about his travels, called The Voyage to the Equatorial Regions of the New Continent, has many volumes with drawings and information about the places he visited.

Humboldt also wrote about the geography of plants and tried to understand how living things are spread out across the Earth. His work helped start the study of how plants and animals live in different areas.