Karl Eichwald

Karl Eduard von Eichwald known as Karl Eichwald (Russian: Эдуард Иванович Эйхвальд, Eduard Ivanovich Eykhvald; 4 July 1795, in Mitau, Courland Governorate – 10 November 1876, in Saint Petersburg) was a Baltic German geologist, physician, and naturalist, who lived his whole life in the Russian Empire.

Karl Eichwald
Born	4 July 1795 Jelgava (German: Mitau), present-day Latvia
Died	10 November 1876 (1876-11-11) (aged 81) St. Petersburg, Russia
Nationality	Baltic German
Citizenship	Russian Empire
Known for	Describing new reptile species
Scientific career
Fields	Geology Medicine
Institutions	Kazan University, Vilnius University, St. Petersburg University
Author abbrev. (botany)	Eichw.

Career

Eichwald was a Baltic German born at Mitau in Courland Governorate. He became a doctor of medicine and professor of zoology in Kazan in 1823; four years later professor of zoology and comparative anatomy at Vilnius; in 1838 professor of zoology, mineralogy and medicine at St. Petersburg; and finally, professor of palaeontology in the institute of mines in that city.^[1]

He travelled much in the Russian Empire, and was a keen observer of its natural history and geology. He died at St. Petersburg.^[1]

Eichwald was a supporter of Darwinism.^[2]

Works

His published works include Reise auf dem Caspischen Meere und in den Caucasus, 2 volumes (Stuttgart and Tübingen, 1834-1838); Die Urwelt Russlands (St Petersburg, 1840-1845); Le Lethaea Rossica, ou Paléontologie de la Russie, 3 volumes (Stuttgart, 1852-1868), with Atlases.^[1]

In the scientific field of herpetology he described several new species of reptiles.^[3]

See also

• List of Baltic German scientists