A 1902 article profiling King Henry III of France marked the debut of Lucien von Römer as a contributor to the Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen. This entry into sexology research defined his intellectual trajectory as he navigated the fields of medicine, neurology, and botany throughout a career spanning from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies.
Academic Foundation and Early Research
Born in 1873 in Kampen, Von Römer descended from a military family of German lineage. He completed his medical studies at Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam, obtaining his medical license in 1903. While pursuing a career as a neurologist, he spent time in Berlin working alongside sexologists Albert Moll and Magnus Hirschfeld. His early writing focused on the innate nature of homosexuality, androgyny, and hermaphroditism. In 1908, he curated an anthology of Friedrich Nietzsche’s reflections on homosexuality for the journal Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft. His academic pursuits faced significant institutional resistance; a postdoctoral dissertation contending that homosexuality is an innate characteristic was rejected by the University of Amsterdam on the basis that it conflicted with prevailing moral standards.
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In 1910, Von Römer shifted his professional focus toward natural history, joining a scientific expedition to New Guinea. Serving as a botanist, he documented a variety of plant species, several of which were classified using his name. This transition into field research preceded his long-term relocation to the Dutch East Indies, where he established a residence in 1913. During his tenure in the region, he functioned as a regional government physician and a specialist in public health.
Life in the Dutch East Indies
After settling in the Dutch East Indies, Von Römer balanced his medical responsibilities with personal life, marrying the pianist Eugenie Gallois in 1921. The couple had one son. Upon concluding his government medical service, he transitioned into private practice, specializing in psychiatry in the city of Malang. He remained in Indonesia for the duration of his later life. Von Römer died in 1965 at the age of 92, having spent over five decades removed from his country of birth.
Fast facts
- Born: 1873, Kampen, Netherlands
- Died: 1965, Malang, Indonesia
- Education: University of Amsterdam; Leiden University
- Key Collaborator: Magnus Hirschfeld
- Medical License: 1903
- Expedition Year: 1910, New Guinea
- Spouse: Eugenie Gallois
- Professional Specialties: Psychiatry, Neurology, Botany
Questions readers ask
What was the result of Von Römer’s 1908 dissertation?
The University of Amsterdam rejected the work, claiming it was offensive and contrary to morality.
Did Von Römer work only in psychiatry?
No, his professional life included roles as a physician, neurologist, public health specialist, and botanical collector.
