Alfred Brehm

Alfred Edmund Brehm (born February 2, 1829 in Unterrenthendorf, now

Life

Alfred Brehm was brought up in the small Thuringian village

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Unterrenthendorf as the son of the minister Christian Ludwig Brehm

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and his second wife Bertha. Christian Ludwig Brehm made a name for

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himself as an ornithologist by publications and an extensive collection

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of stuffed birds. The collection, held in the parsonage and

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consisting of over 9,000 dead birds, offered a glimpse into the world of

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European birds. His father's research gave Brehm an interest in zoology,

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but at first he wanted to become an architect.

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In the spring of 1844 he began to study with a builder in Altenburg.

Related Topics:
1844 - Altenburg

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He continued his studies there until September 1846, when he left for

Related Topics:
September - 1846

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Dresden in order to study architecture; however, he stopped after two

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semesters because Johann Wilhelm von Müller,

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a well-known ornithologist, was looking for a companion for an

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African expedition. Brehm joined the

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expedition on May 31, 1847 as a secretary and assistant to von Müller.

Related Topics:
May 31 - 1847

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The expedition took him to Egypt, the Sudan, and the Sinai peninsula;

Related Topics:
Egypt - Sudan - Sinai peninsula

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the discoveries made were so important that, at the age of only 20,

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he was made a member of the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina.

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After his return, in 1853 he started to study natural sciences at the

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University of Jena. Like his brother Reinhold, he became active with the

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student corps Saxonia Jena;

Related Topics:
Student corps - Jena

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because of his expedition to North Africa, he received the nickname Pharaoh

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from his corps brothers. He graduated after four semesters in 1855

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and in 1856 went on a two-year journey to Spain with his brother

Related Topics:
1856 - Spain

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Reinhold. Afterwards he settled down in Leipzig as a freelance writer and

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wrote many scientific popularizations for Die Gartenlaube and other

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magazines. Apart from this, he undertook an expedition to Norway and Lapland

Related Topics:
Norway - Lapland

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in 1860.

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In May 1861 Brehm married his cousin Mathilde Reiz,

Related Topics:
May - 1861

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with whom he had five children. Since he wanted to travel, in 1862 he accepted the invitation of

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Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

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to accompany him on a trip to Abyssinia. Afterwards, Brehm travelled

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to Africa as well as to Scandinavia and Siberia. His essays and

Related Topics:
Africa - Scandinavia - Siberia

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expedition

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reports from the animal world were well-received by the educated bourgeoisie;

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because of this, he was commissioned by

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the editor of the Bibliographisches Institut, Herrmann Julius Meyer,

Related Topics:
Bibliographisches Institut - Herrmann Julius Meyer

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to write a large multivolume work on the animal world.

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This book became known worldwide as Brehms Tierleben (or, in English,

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Brehm's Life of Animals.) Although Brehm's ethology is no longer seen

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as correct, the title of his work is still a catchphrase.

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Brehm's life was full with writing, scientific expeditions and lecture tours.

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Despite this, in 1862, he accepted the post of

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first director of the Hamburg zoo and kept this

Related Topics:
Hamburg - Zoo

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position until 1867. Afterwards he went to Berlin, where he opened an

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aquarium. He remained with the aquarium until 1874. In the

Related Topics:
Aquarium - 1874

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winter of 1883 to 1884 Brehm planned a lecture tour to the USA.

Related Topics:
1883 - 1884 - USA

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Shortly before his departure, his four children contracted diphtheria.

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Since he could not afford to break his contract, Brehm, a widower since

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1878, went ahead with his tour. At the end of January he received word of

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his youngest son's death. After the hardship of this news Brehm relapsed

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into malaria, which he had caught in Africa in his expedition days.

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On May 11, 1884, he came back to Berlin. In order to find peace,

Related Topics:
May 11 - 1884 - Berlin

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he returned in July to his home town of Renthendorf,

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where he died on November 11, 1884. Today, the Brehm Memorial Museum

Related Topics:
November 11 - 1884

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is located there.

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