Friedrich Adolph Wislizenus
| Friedrich Adolph Wislizenus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 21, 1810 Königsee, Germany |
| Died | September 23, 1889 (aged 79) St. Louis, Missouri |
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | German |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | University of Tübingen, University of Göttingen |
| Alma mater | University of Jena |
| Occupation | Botanist, MD |
| Years active | 1835–1889 |
| Spouse(s) | Lucy Crane (1850–1889) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Johann C. A. Wislizenus Margaretha Beck |
Friedrich Adolph Wislizenus (first name sometimes spelled Frederick) (21 May 1810, Königsee – 23 September 1889) was a German-born American MD, explorer and botanist. He is best known for his printed recollections from travels to Northern Mexico and today's state of New Mexico.
Friedrich Adolph Wislizenus was born on May 21, 1810 in the German town of Königsee to a family of pastor Johann Christian Anton Wislizenus as the youngest of three children; the roots of the family lead to 16th century Kingdom of Poland- therefrom, their ancestor, Jan Wiślicki emigrated first to the Kingdom of Hungary and later Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. Both of the parents died in the early 1810s as victims of epidemic brought by Napoleon's soldiers retreating from Moscow; the orphaned children were taken into custody by their mother's brother, Dr. Hoffman, a man of the law.
Young Friedrich began his education towards becoming a clergyman at the Gymnasium of Rudolstadt- fragments of Hebrew would resurface throughout the whole course of his later life. Yet the interest in natural sciences prevailed and he entered the neighbouring University of Jena in hopes of becoming a doctor of medicine. Universities of Tübingen and Göttingen were his next steps.
On April 3, 1833 he played a serious part in the Frankfurter Wachensturm, a failed attempt to overthrow monarchy in Germany which was speedily dealt with. Some of Wislizenus' colleagues were imprisoned, others, among whom was Friedrich Adolph fled. He followed Johann Lukas Schönlein and left for Zürich, Switzerland.
Wislizenus graduated in 1834 and sought employment in Paris yet upon finding none, he set sail for New York. Having familiarized with the language and country he remained there for two years working actively as a pamphleteer and poet. In 1837 he joined his fellow exiles in St. Clair County, Illinois where he practised in Mascoutah but finding the country life dull and monotonous he ventured to St. Louis in 1839. There he found a long-sought opportunity. Accompanying one of the expeditions of Rocky Mountain Fur Company he embarked on a journey to the west. With the hardy pioneers he traveled far into the North-West, towards the source of Green River in the Wind River Mountains. When the trappers turned back home Wislizenus joined a band of Flathead and Nez Perce Indians with whom he crossed the Rocky Mountains. With no guide willing to lead him through the Sierra Nevada he ventured back along the banks of Arkansas River to the border of Missouri. The voyage proved to be purely recreational due to the inability of finding facilities and lack of instruments.
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