The plant genus Hampea serves as a taxonomic tribute to the life and scientific contributions of Georg Ernst Ludwig Hampe. Born in 1795 in Fürstenberg, this German biologist and pharmacist established a career defined by the rigorous documentation of flora, specifically mosses, while operating from the Duchy of Brunswick for several decades.
Professional Development and Pharmacy
Hampe began his career in 1810 as an apprentice pharmacist in Brakel. His trajectory involved working across various German establishments, including locations in Allendorf, Braunschweig, and the university pharmacy in Göttingen. In 1825, he accepted the position of director at a pharmacy in Blankenburg am Harz, a role he maintained until 1864. This period provided the stability necessary to pursue his academic interests in botany.
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During his residence in Blankenburg, Hampe specialized in bryology, the study of mosses. He collaborated with Friedrich Gottlieb Bartling to produce the exsiccatae series Vegetabilia cellularia in Germania septentrionali praesertim in Hercynia et in agro Göttingensi. Furthermore, his partnership with bryologist Karl Müller enabled him to study non-European species from regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the Americas, leading to the description of numerous new species.
Publications and Later Life
Hampe authored several significant works including Prodromus flora Hercynicae, Icones muscorum novorum vel minus cognitorum, and Flora Hercynica. His academic standing was recognized with an honorary professorship from the University of Göttingen. In 1876, he sold his pharmacy and relocated to Helmstedt to live with his son. Upon his death in 1880, the British Museum of Natural History acquired his extensive herbarium collection.
Fast facts
- Born: 1795, Fürstenberg
- Died: 1880, Helmstedt
- Citizenship: Duchy of Brunswick
- Primary Field: Bryology
- Education: University of Göttingen
- Professional Membership: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- Key Honor: Genus Hampea named for him
Questions readers ask
What was Hampe's primary area of scientific focus?
He was a botanist and bryologist who specialized in the study and documentation of mosses.
What happened to his botanical collection after he died?
His large herbarium was acquired by the British Museum of Natural History.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Göttingen
- Fields of research: botany
