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Ferdinand von Mueller

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Ferdinand von Mueller
Born(1825-06-30)30 June 1825
Rostock,Germany
Died10 October 1896(1896-10-10)(aged 71)
Melbourne,Australia
NationalityGerman-Australian
CitizenshipNaturalised British Subject in South Australia and Victoria
AwardsClarke Medal(1883)
Royal Medal(1888)
Scientific career
Fieldsbotany,medicine,geography
Author abbrev. (botany)F.Muell.

BaronSir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller,KCMG(German:Müller;30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony ofVictoria,Australia by GovernorCharles La Trobein 1853, and later director of theRoyal Botanic Gardensin Melbourne. He also founded theNational Herbarium of Victoria.He named many Australian plants.

Early life

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Mueller was born atRostock,in theGrand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.After the early death of his parents, Frederick and Louisa, his grandparents gave him a good education inTönning,Schleswig.Apprenticed to a chemist at the age of 15, he passed his pharmaceutical examinations and studied botany under ProfessorErnst Ferdinand Nolte(1791–1875) atKiel University.In 1847, he received his degree ofDoctor of Philosophyfrom Kiel for a thesis on the plants of the southern regions of Schleswig.[1]

Mueller's sister Bertha had been advised to seek a warmer climate for her health, and the great botanistLudwig Preiss,who had recently returned fromPerth,recommended Australia,[2]so in 1847, Mueller, Bertha, and their other surviving sister,Clara,sailed fromBremen.While still on the ship, he reportedly fished his first plants out of the water to analyse them.

Australia

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Ferdinand von Mueller was one of a number of influential German-speaking residents — such asLudwig Becker,Hermann Beckler,William Blandowski,Amalie Dietrich,Wilhelm Haacke,Diedrich Henne,Gerard Krefft,Johann Luehmann,Johann Menge,Carl Mücke (a.k.a. Muecke),Ludwig Preiss,Carl Ludwig Christian Rümker (a.k.a. Ruemker),Moritz Richard Schomburgk,Richard Wolfgang Semon,Karl Theodor Staiger,George Ulrich,Eugene von Guérard,Robert von Lendenfeld,Georg von Neumayer,andCarl Wilhelmi— who brought their "epistemic traditions" to Australia, and not only became "deeply entangled with the Australian colonial project", but also were "intricately involved in imagining, knowing and shaping colonial Australia" (Barrett, et al., 2018, p.2).[3]

He arrived at Adelaide on 18 December 1847 and found employment as a chemist withMoritz J. Heuzenroeder,inRundle Street.He was an inveterate explorer, walking alone toMount ArdenandMount Brownduring his first year. Shortly afterwards, he obtained 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land not far from Adelaide in theBugle Ranges,and had a cottage built there. He moved there with his sister Clara, intending to start a farm, but after a few months, he returned to his former employment.[2]

Mueller thought to open a chemist's shop in the gold diggings, so in 1851, he moved to Melbourne, capital of the new colony of Victoria.[2]He had contributed a few papers on botanical subjects to German periodicals, and in 1852, sent a paper to theLinnean Society of Londonon "The Flora of South Australia", thus beginning to be well known in botanical circles.

Victorian Government Botanist

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1853

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Mueller was appointed government botanist for Victoria by Governor Charles La Trobe in 1853, a post that was newly created for him. He examined its flora, especially the Alpine vegetation of Australia, which was previously unknown.[4]He explored theBuffalo Ranges,then went to the upper reaches of theGoulburn Riverand acrossGippslandto the coast. The neighbourhoods ofPort AlbertandWilsons Promontorywere explored, and the journey of some 1,500 miles (2,400 km) was completed along the coast to Melbourne.

In the same year, he established the National Herbarium of Victoria, which can still be visited today. It has many plants from Australia and abroad, many of which were collected by Mueller. Also, his large private library was transferred to the government of Victoria in 1865 and is incorporated into the library of the herbarium in Melbourne.[5]

1855–1856

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Mueller was then nominated as the botanist to accompany the North Australian Exploring Expedition (1855–1856) led byAugustus Gregory,and decided to join despite initial hesitations.[6]He explored theVictoria Riverand other portions of North Australia, was one of the four who reached Termination Lake in 1856, and accompanied Gregory's expedition overland toMoreton Bay.[4]Mueller, for his part, found nearly 800 species in Australia new to science, such asMacadamia ternifolia(named after his friend and colleague,John Macadam).[7]He published in this year hisDefinitions of Rare or Hitherto Undescribed Australian Plants.

1854–1872

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From 1854 to 1872, Mueller was a member of the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science, which later became thePhilosophical Institute of Victoria.He was president of the Philosophical Institute in 1859 when it received a royal charter and became theRoyal Society of Victoria.He was an active member of the society's "Exploration Committee" which established theBurke and Wills expeditionof 1860. Mueller promoted the exploration of Australia, and as one of only two members of the Exploration Committee with any experience of exploration, he made several speeches to the society on the topic. He did not favour the selection ofBurkeas leader, but due to factionalism in the committee, he had little say in the establishment, provisioning, or composition of the exploration party.[8]

Bust of Mueller at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

1857–1873

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From 1857 to 1873, he was director of theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne,and not only introduced many plants into Victoria, but also made the excellent qualities of the blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) known all over the world, and succeeded in introducing it into the south of Europe, North and South Africa, California, and the extratropical portions of South America.[4]

1873

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By 1873, influential Melburnians were critical of Mueller's scientific and educational approach with the Royal Botanic Gardens. Development of the gardens with an eye to aesthetics was sought. Mueller was dismissed from his position as director of the Botanic Gardens on 31 May 1873.[9][10]He had done much to develop the gardens with the scarce resources at hand. Though his pay was not affected and he still continued as the government botanist, he never lost his sense of grievance over losing the position.

In April 1873, Mueller had created the genusGuilfoyliaand describedWilliam Guilfoyleas "distinguished as a collector [who] evidenced great ardour" and held high hopes for his collecting ability. Mueller's opinion changed when Guilfoyle was appointed to take his place as director of the Botanic Gardens in July 1873. He accused Guilfoyle of being a "nurseryman [with] no claims to scientific knowledge whatever" and of getting the job due to being related to the wife of the responsible minister. Mueller subsequently abolishedGuilfoyliaas part of the genus ofCadelliain his botanical census of 1882 (today the genusGuilfoyliais again accepted).[11]Guilfoyle went on to landscape the gardens in an aesthetic and pleasing style welcomed by most Melburnians.[12]

Recognition

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In 1857, Mueller applied for and was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine of theUniversity of Rostock;[13]in 1883, he was awarded theClarke Medalby theRoyal Society of New South Wales.

Mueller was decorated by many foreign countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, and Portugal.[4]He was appointed a fellow of theRoyal Societyin 1861, and knighted as Knight Commander of theOrder of St Michael and St Georgein 1879. A list of his 'Orders, offices, affiliations and sundry honours' has been assembled.[14]Many of his decorations were received in return for supplying zoological specimens to royal museums.[15]

He was the benefactor of explorerErnest Giles,who visitedLake AmadeusandKata Tjuta.Giles had originally wanted to name these Lake Mueller and Mt Ferdinand,[16]but Mueller prevailed upon Giles to name them Lake Amadeus, after KingAmadeus of Spain,and Mt Olga, afterQueen Olga of Württemberg;both kings had granted him honours. In 1871,King Karl of Württemberggave him the hereditary title ofFreiherr,to mark his distinction in 'natural sciences generally and in particular for the natural history collections and institutions of Our Kingdom'[17]He was then known asBaronSir FerdinandvonMueller.[18]

Publications

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He published 11 volumes ofFragmenta phytographiae Australiae(1862–1881), two volumes of thePlants of Victoria(1860–1865), and other books on theEucalyptus,Myoporaceae,Acacia,andSalsolaceae,all profusely illustrated. He also co-operated in the production ofGeorge Bentham'sFlora Australiensis.[19]He described many novel plant species sent by botanists from other parts of Australia, notablyMaurice William Holtzefrom the Northern Territory, and encouraged settlers to send plants to him.

Mueller published an educationalexsiccatawith the titleEducational collections of Australian plants(1873–1876) and was able to distribute three fascicles in about 50 institutions.[20][21]

Women were key contributors to his collections. Two hundred and twenty-five women and girls, the youngest of which was six years of age, collected plant specimens and mailed them to Mueller for cataloging.[22]These women includedLouisa Atkinson,Sarah Brooks,andFlora Mary Campbell.[23]: 99, 105 & 107 

He took a leading part in promoting Australian exploration, especially the Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first to cross the continent, and in the various attempts to unravel the mystery which attended the fate of his fellow countrymanLudwig Leichhardt(1813–1848).[4]

Death

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Mueller's grave at St Kilda Cemetery

Mueller died in Melbourne and is buried in theSt Kilda Cemetery.He was survived by his sister, Mrs. Clara Wehl, ofMillicent, South Australia.His other sister, Mrs. Bertha Doughty of nearPenolapredeceased him. He never married.[2]

Darwinism

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Mueller was a theist who rejectedDarwinism,but is said by historians to have misunderstood key aspects[clarification needed]ofCharles Darwin's theory. Despite his differences he remained on friendly terms with Darwin.[24]

Standard author abbreviation

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The standardauthor abbreviationF.Muell.is used to indicate this person as the author whencitingabotanical name.[25]

Legacy

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The Mueller Medal has been awarded since 1904 by theAustralian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Scienceto "a scientist who is the author of important contributions to anthropological, botanical, geological or zoological science, preferably with special reference to Australia".[26]

A Victorian RailwaysS Classdiesel-electric locomotive, S311, is named after Mueller.

Places named after Mueller

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A number of geographical features were named after Mueller: the Mueller Ranges (Western Australia), Muellers Range (Queensland), Mount Mueller (in WA,Northern Territory,Tasmaniaand Victoria) and Mount von Mueller (WA), Muellers Peak (New South Wales), theMueller River(NZ), Muellers Creek (South Australia) and Mueller Creek (NT) also Von Mueller Creek (Vic), Lake Mueller (Qld), and Mueller hut near theMueller Glacierin New Zealand.Mueller Park,Subiaco (WA) is also named after him.

Artworks based on Mueller

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  • Love, Death, Music and Plants,a music theatre work based on scenes from the life of Mueller, was written by Brian Lipson (writer) andMatthew Hindson(composer), and had a two-week season at the Mueller Hall,National Herbarium of Victoria,18–30 November 2003.[27]
  • A bust of Mueller byMarc Clarkis located outside the National Herbarium of Victoria.[28]

Plants named after Mueller

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Species named to honour Mueller typically end inmuelleri,muellerinaormuelleriana.Examples include the genus,Muellerina(Loranthaceae), the taxaCallitris muelleri,Persoonia muelleri,andVerticordia muelleriana,Allocasuarina muellerianaandEucalyptus muelleriana,andTerminalia ferdinandiana.[29]

Animals named after Mueller

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A species of Australian lizard,Lerista muelleri,is named in his honour,[30]as well as a number of fish and invertebrates.[31]

Journals named after Mueller

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The in-house journal,Muelleria,of theNational Herbarium of Victoriais dedicated to Mueller.

See also

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Bibliography

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  1. Chisholm, A. H.,Ferdinand von Mueller, Great Australians,Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1962
  2. Home, R.W. (ed),Australian Science in the Making: A Bicentennial History(1990)ISBN0-521-39640-9
  3. Home, R.W. et al. (eds)Regardfully yours: selected correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller.3 vols Peter Lang, Berne. 1998–2006
  4. Kynaston, Edward,A Man on Edge: A life of Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller,Allen Lane, London; Ringwood, 1981
  5. Mueller, Dr Ferdinand von, 1858.An historical review of the explorations of Australia.Melbourne: Philosophical Institute.
  6. Mueller, Dr Ferdinand von, 1863. "Enumeration of the plants collected by Dr J Murray during Mr A Howitt's Expedition into Central Australia in the year 1862".Annual Report of the Government Botanist,pp. 16–18.
  7. Mueller, Dr Ferdinand von, 1865. "On the systematic position of the Nardoo plant and the physiological characteristics of its fruit".Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria: During the years 1861 to 1864,pp 137–147.
  8. Voigt, Johannes H.,Die Erforschung Australiens: Der Briefwechsel zwischen August Petermann and Ferdinand von Mueller 1861–1878,Justus Perthes Verlag, Gotha, 1996

Additional publications online

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Notes

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  1. ^Doctoral certificate, University of Kiel, 2 August 1847, reproduced in Home et al. Vol. 1, p 99.
  2. ^abcdInterview with F E H W KrichauffSouth Australian Register12 October 1896 p.7 accessed 20 August 2011
  3. ^In relation to "Australasia", another German-speaking explorer and geologist,Julius von Haast (1822–1887),was appointed as the inaugural Curator/Director of theCanterbury Museum,inChristchurch, New Zealandin 1867.
  4. ^abcdeChisholm 1911.
  5. ^Victoria,1864– 5, Parliamentary Papers, No, 72: "Annual Report of the Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Garden.
  6. ^Home, RW; Lucas, AM; Maroske, Sara; Sinkora, DM; Voigt, JH (1998).Regardfully Yours: Selected Correspondence of Ferdinand Von Mueller.Peter Lang Publishing. pp. 30–31.ISBN9780820442136.
  7. ^Mueller, Ferdinand (1858). "Account of some New Australian Plants".Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria.2:72.
  8. ^Lost Explorers by Ed Wright Murdock Books 2008ISBN978-1-74196-139-3
  9. ^Helen M Cohn and Sara Maroske 'Relief from duties of minor importance: the removal of Baron von Mueller from the directorship of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens',Victorian Historical Journal,67, (1996) pp. 103–127
  10. ^Darragh, Thomas A. (1966), "Mueller and Personal Names in Zoology and Palaeontology",The Victorian Naturalist,Vol.113, No.34, (August 1966), pp.195–197.22 May 1996.Archivedfrom the original on 22 June 2023.Retrieved22 June2023.
  11. ^"Guilfoylia F.Muell. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".Powo.science.kew.org.Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2022.Retrieved30 June2022.
  12. ^Weston Bate, 'Perceptions of Melbourne's "Pride and glory" ',Victorian Historical Journal,vol 67, 4 – 16, 1996
  13. ^Degree certificate transcribed and translated in Home et al, vol 1, pp 334–336;
  14. ^Home et al., vol 3, pp. 838 – 858.
  15. ^Lucas, A M (2013) Specimens and the Currency of Honour: the Museum Trade of Ferdinand von Mueller, Historical Records of Australian Science, 24:15–39
  16. ^"European history – uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park".Archived fromthe originalon 27 January 2013.Retrieved27 November2012.
  17. ^Letters patent by Karl I, 6 July 1871, reproduced and translated in Home et al., vol 2, pp 580 – 582
  18. ^"The Whitlam Institute: The Whitlam Collection: Nauru 1888–1900 by Wilhelm Fabricius".Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2005.Retrieved31 October2005.
  19. ^Lucas, A. M. (2003). "Assistance at a distance: George Bentham, Ferdinand von Mueller and the production ofFlora australiensis".Archives of Natural History.30(2): 255–281.doi:10.3366/anh.2003.30.2.255.
  20. ^"Educational collections of Australian plants: IndExs ExsiccataID=2142420223".IndExs – Index of Exsiccatae.Botanische Staatssammlung München.Retrieved25 August2024.
  21. ^Maroske, Sara (2007)."Educational exsiccatae: Ferdinand von Mueller's botanical lessons in colonial Victoria".ReCollections.2(1): 37–47.
  22. ^Maroske, Sara (2014)."'A taste for botanic science': Ferdinand Mueller's female collectors and the history of Australian botany ".Muelleria: An Australian Journal of Botany.32:72–91.doi:10.5962/p.295689.
  23. ^Maroske, Sara; Vaughn, Alison (2014)."Ferdinand Mueller's female plant collectors: a biographical register".Muelleria.32:92–172.doi:10.5962/p.295690.hdl:1885/70771.
  24. ^Lucas, A. M. (2010).Ferdinand von Mueller's interactions with Charles Darwin and his response to Darwinism.Archives of Natural History 37: 102–130.
  25. ^International Plant Names Index.F.Muell.
  26. ^ANZAAS > Mueller Medal Recipients (1904–2005)archive.is Retrieved 9 July 2017,
  27. ^"Garden genius lauded in song".Theage.com.au.14 November 2003.Archivedfrom the original on 5 November 2012.Retrieved15 August2010.
  28. ^Centre, The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research."Image – Bust of Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, sculpted by Marc Clark, located outside the Nation Herbarium of Victoria. – Encyclopedia of Australian Science".Eoas.info.Archivedfrom the original on 31 December 2016.Retrieved19 November2016.
  29. ^Exell, A.W. (1935)."Notes from the British Museum Herbarium"(PDF).Journal of Botany, British and Foreign.73:263.Archived(PDF)from the original on 30 March 2016.Retrieved5 September2018.
  30. ^Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011).The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp.ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5.( "Mueller, F.J.H.", p. 184).
  31. ^A. M. Lucas (2013) Zoological eponyms honouring the botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller, Archives of Natural History, 40:263–269,

References

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Scholiahas a profile forFerdinand von Mueller(Q708002).
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