THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 217, 12 September 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

BARON VON HUMBOLDT, 1769 - 1859. BORN SEPTEMBER 14, 1769.

Friedrich Heinrich Alexander Baron von Humboldt was born at Berlin on September 14, 1769. After some years' service in the mining department of the Academy at Frieburg, the desire of visiting tropical countries led him to resign his office and devote himself entirely to the study of Nature. In 1 799 he set out for the Spanish settlements in South America, and in the course of the succeeding five years explored a vast extent of territory in Venezuela, Granada, Equador and Peru, after which he and his companion crossed Mexico from east to west. For some time after his return to Europe, von Humboldt made Paris his headquarters. In 1807-1817 his monumental work, embodying the chief results of his travels, appeared in two volumes containing no less than I 425 copper plates. In 1827 he returned to Berlin, but in 1829 again set out on a lengthy expedition, this time to the north of China. This journey occupied nine months and covered 2320 miles. In 1830 von Humboldt was engaged in international political services, and during the period that followed he visited England. Me spent the latter years of his life at Berlin, where he occupied a high position at the Prussian Court. His last great work, "Cosmos" (1845-1858), was one of the greatest of scientific works. To him we are indebted for important additions to our knowledge of magnetism. Humboldt is recognised as one of the greatest of naturalists. He died on May 6< 1859, in his ninetieth year. (Complied hy A. H. HEED, Dunedin.)

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