Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim (Russian: Григо́рий Ива́нович Фи́шер фон Ва́льдгейм, romanized: Grigórij Ivánovič Fíšer fon Vál'dgejm; 13 October 1771 – 18 October 1853) was a Saxon anatomist, entomologist and paleontologist.
Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim
| |
|---|---|
Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim
| |
| Born | Gotthilf Fischer 13 October 1771 |
| Died | 18 October 1853(1853-10-18) (aged 82) |
| Other names | Григо́рий Ива́нович Фи́шер фон Ва́льдгейм |
| Education | University of Leipzig |
| Occupation(s) | Anatomist, entomologist and paleontologist. |
| Known for | Classification of invertebrates, Entomographia Imperii Rossici |
| Awards | Russian nobility; addition of "von Waldheim" to his name; Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; member of the American Philosophical Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Mainz, Moscow University |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | G.Fisch.Waldh. |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | G. Fischer, Fischer de Waldheim, Fischer von Waldheim |
Fischer was born as Gotthilf Fischer[1]inWaldheim, Saxony, the son of a linen weaver. He studied medicineatLeipzig. He travelled to Vienna and Paris with his friend Alexander von Humboldt and studied under Georges Cuvier. He took up a professorship at Mainz, and then in 1804, became Professor of Natural History and Director of the Demidov Natural History Museum at the Moscow University. In August 1805, he founded the Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. Fischer was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1812 and a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1818.[2][3]
Fischer was mainly engaged in the classification of invertebrates, the result of which was his Entomographia Imperii Rossici (1820–1851). He also spent time studying fossils from the area around Moscow.
Due to his work studying the insects of Russia, the Russian government granted him nobility as well as the "von Waldheim" ending to his name.[1]