| Authorised form of name | Humboldt; Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von (1769 - 1859); naturalist and traveller |
| Other forms of name | Alexander von |
| Humboldt, Alexander von |
| Other forms of surname | Humbolt |
| Dates | 1769 - 1859 |
| Place of birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Date of birth | 14 September 1769 |
| Place of death | Berlin, Germany |
| Date of death | 06 May 1859 |
| Dates and places | Burial:
Tegel, Berlin, Germany |
| Research field | Natural science |
| Activity | Education:
Frankfurt-an-der -Oder; Gottingen
Career:
Visited England with George Forster (FRS 1777) whom he met at Gottingen; worked in a mining department, Upper Franconia; stayed in Paris, then sailed for South America, which he explored (over 5 years); settled in Paris (1804-1827); lecturer in Berlin (1827); travelled through Russia with Ehrenberg (FRS 1837) and Gustav Rose (FRS 1866) (1829); undertook diplomatic missions (1830-1848); held high position in the Prussian court; began to publish 'Kosmos' (1845)
Memberships:
For Mem GS
|
| Membership category | Foreign Member |
| Date of election | 06/04/1815 |
| Royal Society activity | Medals and prizes:
Copley Medal 1852 |
| Relationships | Younger son of a major in the Prussian army; unmarried |
| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DSB
Obituaries:
Proc Roy Soc 1859-1860 vol 10 pp xxxix-xlii
References:
James Gabriel O'Hara, 'Gauss and the Royal Society: The Reception of His Ideas on Magnetism in Britain (1832-1842)' in NR 1983-84 vol 38 pp 17-78
K K Schwarz, 'Faraday and Babbage' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp367-381
Notes:
In R he is described as Baron Alexander von Humbolt. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/95193235 |
| Royal Society code | NA7984 |
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| IM/002302 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von | nd |
| M/240 | Humboldt Medal | 1959 |
| DM/3/116 | Minute of a meeting of the Committee for considering the letter of Baron Humboldt | 13 March 1837 |
| IM/002303 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von | nd |
| IM/002301 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von | nd |
| CB/1/4/163 | Letter from Baron Alexander von Humboldt, Paris to Charles Blagden | 6 June 1813 |
| CB/1/4/165 | Letter from Baron Alexander von Humboldt, Paris to Charles Blagden, Royal Society, Somerset House, London | 21 July 1814 |
| MM/21/32 | Copy of letter from Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt [to Francis Rawden Chesney] | 7 November 1850 |
| IM/006822 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von | nd |
| MC/5/63 | Copy letter from Alexander von Humboldt, Potsdam, to the Royal Society | 27 November 1852 |
| CB/1/4/164 | Letter from Baron Alexander von Humboldt, Paris to Charles Blagden, Royal Society, London | 12 November 1813 |
| IM/006821 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von | nd |
| EC/1814/36 | Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von: certificate of election to the Royal Society | |
| AP/20/7 | Unpublished letter, regarding terrestrial magnetism from Baron Humboldt to the President of the Royal Society | 23 April 1836 |
| MC/3 | Volume 3 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1839-1843 |
| MC/3/46 | Copy letter from Captain Edward Sabine, Elberfelt, to Baron von Humboldt | 24 October 1839 |
| MC/5/79 | Letter from Baron de Humboldt, Berlin, to the Earl of Rosse, President of the Royal Society | 30 December 1852 |
| MC/5/57 | Copy letter from Baron von Humboldt, Potsdam, to [William Henry Smyth], Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society | 9 November 1852 |
| MC/5/94 | Letter from [Christian Charles Josias von] Bunsen, Prussia House, to Colonel [Edward] Sabine, [Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society] | 18 April 1853 |
| MC/5/377 | Letter from Prince Albert, Osborne, to Baron [Alexander von] Humboldt | 10 December 1858 |
| MC/5 | Volume 5 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1851-1858 |
| AP/20/8 | Unpublished letter, 'Report upon a letter addressed by the Baron de Humboldt to HRH the President of the Royal Society and communicated by HRH to the Council' from S [Samuel] Hunter Christie and G B [George Biddell] Airy to the President of the Royal Society | 9 June 1836 |