Johann Maria Hildebrandt

Johann Maria Hildebrandt
Born	13 or 19 March 1847 Düsseldorf, Germany
Died	29 May 1881 Madagascar
Occupation(s)	explorer, collector, scientist

Johann Maria Hildebrandt (born 13 or 19 March 1847; died 29 May 1881) was a German explorer, collector, and scientist.

Biography

Hildebrandt's starling

Hildebrandt was born in Düsseldorf, Germany to a family of painters. Originally a machine maker, he lost an eye after an accident and became a gardener, eventually starting work in 1869 for the Berlin Botanical Garden. Between 1872 and 1881, Hildebrandt made a number of expeditions to the Horn of Africa and the African Great Lakes, collecting a large number of botanical and zoological specimens. His expeditions were for the most part modest affairs, but he discovered a number of new species. He also lectured widely and wrote about many aspects of the places he visited.

Hildebrandt died of a fever and stomach bleeding whilst on an expedition to Madagascar and was buried in the Norwegian Cemetery in Ambatovinaky. He gave his name to a number of species, including Hildebrandt's starling (Encephalartos hildebrandtii) and Hildebrandt's francolin (Pternistis hildebrandti), both of which he discovered in Kenya in the African Great Lakes region.

References

• Beentje, H.J. (1998). "J. M. Hildebrandt (1847 - 1881): Notes on His Travels and Plant Collections". Kew Bulletin. 53 (4).

External links

• Digitallibrary.usc.edu: J.M.Hildebrandt's grave, Ambatovinaky, Antananarivo