Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin

Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin
Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin
	University of St. Petersburg
Author abbrev. (botany)	S.G.Gmel.

Samuel George Gottlieb Gmelin (4 July 1744 – 27 July 1774) was a German physician, botanist, and explorer.

Background

Gmelin was born at

Volga, and the western and eastern coasts of the Caspian Sea. Whilst travelling in the Caucasus he was taken hostage by Usmey Khan of Khaïtakes and died of ill treatment in captivity in Akhmedkent, Dagestan. He was only 30 years of age.^[1] His death led to a Russian punitive expedition which briefly conquered Derbent

.

Gmelin was the author of Historia Fucorum (1768), the first work dedicated to marine biology dealing exclusively with algae and the first using the binomial system of nomenclature. It includes elaborate illustrations of seaweed and marine algae on folded leaves. However, algal specimens used by Gmelin in the Historia fucorum are thought to no longer exist (Dixon & Irvine, 1970). The results of his travels were published in Reise durch Russland zur untersuchung der drey natur-reiche ("Trip Through Russia To Study the Three Natural Provinces") (1770–1784, 4 vols.). The final volume was to be completed by Güldenstädt, but was ultimately edited by Peter Simon Pallas after Güldenstädt's death.^[2]

Biography

In 1772, he married Anna von Chappuzeau, granddaughter of the famous naval captain

battle of Osel Island

in 1719, when he commanded the Raphail.

The standard author abbreviation S.G.Gmel. is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.^[3]

References

^ Tooke, William (1799). View of the Russian Empire during the reign of Catharine the Second, and to the close of the present century. Volume 1. London: T N Longmann and O. Rees.
^ Chantreau. Philosophical, political, and literary travels in Russia, during the years 1788 & 1789. Volume 1. Perth: R. Morison, Junior. pp. 285–287.
^ International Plant Names Index. S.G.Gmel.

[1] Tooke, William (1799). View of the Russian Empire during the reign of Catharine the Second, and to the close of the present century. Volume 1. London: T N Longmann and O. Rees.

[2] Chantreau. Philosophical, political, and literary travels in Russia, during the years 1788 & 1789. Volume 1. Perth: R. Morison, Junior. pp. 285–287.

[3] International Plant Names Index. S.G.Gmel.

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