Konrad von Gesner
{{Infobox scientist | name = Conrad Gessner | image = Conrad Gesner by Tobias Stimmer.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Portrait by Tobias Stimmer, c. 1564 | birth_date = 26 March 1516
Conrad Gessner (Latin: Conradus Gesnerus, German: Cůnrat Geßner (later Conrat Geßner, Conrad Geßner): 26 March 1516 – 13 December 1565) was a Swiss physician, naturalist, bibliographer, and philologist. Born into a poor family in Zürich, Switzerland, his father and teachers quickly realised his talents and supported him through university, where he studied classical languages, theology and medicine. He became Zürich's City Physician, but was able to spend much of his time on collecting, research and writing. Gessner compiled monumental works on bibliography (Bibliotheca universalis 1545–1549) and zoology (Historiae animalium 1551–1558) and was working on a major botanical text at the time of his death from plague at the age of 49. He is regarded as the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology and botany. He was frequently the first to describe a species of plant or animal in Europe, such as the tulip in 1559. A number of plants and animals have been named after him.
Conrad Gessner (Latin: Conradus Gesnerus) was born on March 26, 1516 in Zürich, Switzerland, the son of Ursus Gessner, a poor Zürich furrier. His early life was one of poverty and hardship, but Gessner's father realized his talents, and sent him to live with and be schooled by a great uncle, who grew and collected medicinal herbs for a living. Here the boy became familiar with many plants and their medicinal purposes which led to a lifelong interest in natural history.
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