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Alexander Von Humboldt sitting next to a globe with a manuscript of his life’s work – By Karl Joseph Stieler –

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Alexander von Humboldt

Known as Alexander von Humboldt, his full name is Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt. He was a German polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and proponent of Romantic philosophy and science.

He was born on September 14th, 1769 in Berlin, Prussia (known as Germany now). Humboldt died on May 6th, 1859 in Berlin Germany.  His discoveries helped advance science and open up the whole world for people looking to discover more.

Humboldt is well known for Kosmos (1845-1862), Biogeography, and Humboldt Current. Humboldt鈥檚 quantitative work on botanical geography laid the foundation for the field of biogeography.

Humboldt resurrected the use of the word cosmos from ancient Greek and assigned it to his multivolume treatise, Kosmos. By doing this he sought to unify diverse branches of scientific knowledge and culture.

Let鈥檚 look at some astonishing facts about Alexander Von Humboldt.

1. His Exploration Was Funded by His Mother鈥檚 Money

Young Alexander holding a barometer together with his widowed mother – By Llucido3400 –

Alexander Von Humboldt was born in Berlin in Prussia on 14 September 1769. He was the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher, and linguist Wilhelm Von Humboldt. Alexander George Von Humboldt, His father, was a member of the prominent Pomeranian family and was also a major in the Prussian army. His father died young but his family still ensured that he received an excellent education. He studied Finance at the University of Frankfurt for six months.

The money left to Alexander鈥檚 mother by Baron Holwede became crucial in funding his explorations after her death. This money contributed to more than 70% of his private income.

2. Charles Darwin Was His Inspiration

Humboldt was a scholar in many fields including biology, geography, and philosophy. He investigated and measured his environment thoroughly and described many novel observations, places, and species. It is known that Humboldt鈥檚 books were a constant source of guidance and inspiration for Darwin. Both Humboldt and Darwin explored the flora and fauna of South America and both were astonished by the richness in species diversity.

Humboldt鈥檚 observations on the distribution of plants and animals across different ecosystems as well as his confidence that humans around the world belong to the same species had an important impact on Darwin鈥檚 view on natural selection and human evolution.

It鈥檚 not surprising that Darwin called Humboldt the greatest traveler who ever lived. Darwin also cited Humboldt鈥檚 books several hundred times in his work.

3. The Cosmos Publications Cover What He Learned While Travelling 

The Cosmos was Humboldt鈥檚 multi-volume work that was published late in his life to bring together research he gathered from traveling. The first two volumes were published between 1845 and 1847.

Originally, these were meant to be the complete collection. However, Humboldt released three more volumes, one of which was released after his death.

Humboldt had long aimed to write a comprehensive work about geography and natural sciences. With inspiration from German romanticism, he sought to create a compendium of the world鈥檚 environment. The third and fourth volumes were published in 1850-58 and the fifth in 1862.

4. He Mapped a Large Portion of South America

A seminal 1811 map of the Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain in North America (present-day Mexico and the American West), and the Southern U.S., by Alexander von Humboldt – By Geographicus Rare Antique Maps –

Alexander鈥檚 mother died when he was 27 years old and left him a great fortune. He took the money and used it as a chance to commence his explorations.

Within a year after his mother鈥檚 death, he set off on a journey around South America with the botanist Aime Bonpland. It was during this Journey that von Humboldt and Bonpland mapped out large portions of South America.

They mapped about 1700 miles of Orinoco River, climbed Mt. Chimborazo, and measured the Peruvian current, which was later renamed the Humboldt current.

5. A Keen Networker

Alexander von Humboldt – By Henry William Pickersgill –

Humboldt wrote widely about his travels and the people that he encountered. He established strategic connections with thinkers, researchers, and politicians worldwide.

This was one of the reasons for his successful travels. Von Humboldt was said to be an excellent communicator and his skills are evident in the number of letters that he both wrote and received in his lifetime. He sent around 50000 letters and received more than double the letters sent.

He was cosmopolitan in his correspondence, he wrote in French, English, Latin, and Spanish as well as his native German.

6. He Was an Early Witness to Climate Change

At the beginning of the 19th century, Alexander Humboldt was already pointing out climatic changes caused by humans. He made several notes on his travels about the way humans were treating the environment.

During his journey to South America, he saw how colonists were abusing the environment and took a clear stance on the subject: 鈥淚 believe man is violating nature.鈥�

He inspired thinkers like James Madison and John Mure with his reports.

7. Expedited Russia at 60 Years of Age

Alexander Von Humboldt stayed healthy into his later years. He started an expedition in Russia when he was 60 years old. The idea had been proposed to Von Humboldt on two occasions previously but he had to turn it down for various reasons.

The expedition was authorized by the Russian foreign minister. The minister intended to see whether or not a platinum-based currency was possible in Russia.

Von Humboldt traveled through the Urals And Siberia all the way up to the Chinese border, completing one of the biggest expeditions of his life.

8. His Legacy Will Live on For Ages

Humboldt Park in Chicago – By Plij –

Alexander Von Humboldt was one of the most important thinkers and writers of his time. His influence on the world can still be felt today. There are many famous locations, institutes, and even some animals that have been named after him in the years following his death.

Perhaps one of the most famous is the Humboldt University in Berlin. There is also a type of penguin that is named after Humboldt and a park that is found in Chicago, Illinois.

9. Alexander Humboldt Died in 1859

On 24 February 1857, Humboldt suffered a minor stroke, which passed without perceptible symptoms. It was not until the winter of 1858-1859 that his strength began to decline.

On 6 May 1859, he died peacefully in Berlin, aged 89. His last words were reported to be 鈥淗ow glorious these sunbeams are! They seem to call Earth to the Heavens!鈥�

His remains were conveyed in the state through the streets of Berlin, in a hearse drawn by six horses. He was interned at his family’s resting place at Tegel.

10. Alexander von Humboldt Was a Technology-Obsessed Data Collector

Portrait d’Alexander von Humboldt – By Henri Lehmann – Wikimedia Commons

Humboldt was driven by an urge to survey the world, collect data and document his findings. To that end, he took a glut of measuring instruments on his travels that he painstakingly cataloged.

Humboldt saw nature as an interconnected system. He wanted to research the entire cosmos and never let adversity stand in his way.

His thirst for knowledge was more important to him than his well-being. He acted as a guinea pig, subjecting his body to electric shocks to study muscle contraction.