Karl Ernst von Baer

Karl Ernst von Baer (February 17 1792 - November 26 1876) was a Baltic German biologist and a founding father of embryology.

Life

Karl Ernst von Baer was born in Piibe, Estonia, many of his ancestors had come from Westphalia. A knight by birthright, his full name was Karl Ernst Ritter von Baer, Edler von Huthorn. He was educated at the Cathedral School in Reval (Tallinn) and the University of Dorpat (Tartu). He continued his education in Berlin, Vienna, and Würzburg where Döllinger introduced him to the new field of embryology. In 1817, he became a professor at Königsberg University (Kaliningrad) and full professor of zoology in 1821, and of anatomy in 1826. In 1829 he taught briefly in St Petersburg, but returned to Königsberg. In 1834 Baer moved back to St Petersburg and joined the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences, first in zoology (1834-46) and then in comparative anatomy and physiology (1846-62). His interests while there were anatomy, ichthyology, ethnography, anthropology and geography. The last years of his life (1867-76) were spent in Dorpat (Tartu), where he became one of the leading critics of the theories of Charles Darwin.

Related Topics:
Piibe - Estonia - Westphalia - Reval - University of Dorpat - Berlin - Vienna - Königsberg University - Zoology - Anatomy - St Petersburg - St Petersburg Academy of Sciences - Comparative anatomy - Physiology - Ichthyology - Ethnography - Anthropology - Geography - Charles Darwin

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A statue honouring him can be found on Toome Hill (Toomemägi) in Tartu. The two kroons (2 krooni) Estonian banknote bears his portrait.

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