A collection of nearly 34,000 medical books remains the most significant material legacy of Christoph Jacob Trew, a German physician and botanist who spent his career documenting the natural world. Born in 1695 in Lauf an der Pegnitz, he balanced a high-profile medical practice with extensive scientific correspondence and the systematic cataloging of botanical and anatomical knowledge.
Medical Education and Travel
Trew pursued his medical training at the University of Altdorf, where he completed his dissertation under the guidance of the surgeon and botanist Lorenz Heister in 1717. Following his studies, he undertook a three-year academic tour across Europe. During this period, he established professional networks in Switzerland, Leiden, Danzig, and Königsberg while concurrently gathering scientific literature and artworks. Although he considered a position in Helmstedt in 1720, he eventually returned to his hometown of Lauf an der Pegnitz to establish himself as a general practitioner.
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In 1721, Trew settled in Nuremberg to practice medicine. His professional status grew through roles as a city solicitor, court physician, and advisor to the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. He also held the title of Count Palatine of the Holy Roman Empire. Within the local medical infrastructure, he supervised the Theatrum Anatomicum and the Hortus Medicus, a garden dedicated to medicinal plants. These positions provided him with the resources and student assistance necessary for his anatomical studies and botanical research.
Botanical Illustration and Patronage
Trew significantly advanced botanical documentation through his patronage of the artist Georg Ehret. Beginning in 1732, Trew supported Ehret’s production of detailed plant illustrations. This collaboration culminated in the publication of Plantae Selectae Quarum Imagines, which began in 1750. Trew provided the written descriptions for the series, which introduced 16 new plant names, including Cochliasanthus. Following Trew's death in 1769, Benedict Christoph Vogel saw the completion of these remaining botanical projects.
Scientific Societies and Libraries
Beyond his clinical practice, Trew was a prolific contributor to the scientific community. In 1731, he co-founded the journal Commercium Litterarium to facilitate the exchange of medical and natural science information. His memberships included the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Berlin Academy, the Florentine Botanical Society, and the Royal Society of London, the latter of which he joined in 1746. His vast personal library of 34,000 books was donated to the University of Altdorf and subsequently transferred to the Erlangen University library.
Fast facts
- Born: 1695, Lauf an der Pegnitz
- Died: 1769, Nuremberg
- Field of Study: Botany and Medicine
- Education: University of Altdorf
- Key Publication: Plantae Selectae Quarum Imagines
- Memberships: Royal Society, Leopoldina Academy
- Eponymous Genus: Afrotrewia
Questions readers ask
What became of Christoph Jacob Trew's library?
His collection of nearly 34,000 books was donated to the University of Altdorf and later moved to the Erlangen University library.
Is any plant genus named after Trew?
Yes, in 1914, the African genus Afrotrewia within the family Euphorbiaceae was named in his honour.
Achievements
- Fields: botany
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