Baer

Baer, KARL ERNST VON, a distinguished Russian naturalist, who contributed very largely to the progress of natural science, especially of embryology, was born February 29, 1792, in Estonia. During 1810-14 he studied medicine at the university of Dorpat, but in 1814 studied comparative anatomy in Würzburg. In 1817 he went to Königsberg, where, two years after, he was appointed professor of Zoology, and charged with the organisation of the zoological museum. In 1834 he was called to St Petersburg, and was soon known as one of the most active members of the Academy. In 1837 he visited Nova Zembla; and in 1851-56 he devoted much time and study to the fisheries on Lake Peipus, the Baltic, and the Caspian Sea, publishing a large work thereon, and suggesting many improved methods. He specially applied himself to embryology; and to his laborious investigations we owe most valuable discoveries in regard to the development of animal life. Beginning with his Epistola de Ovi Mammalium et Hominis Genesi (Leip. 1827), he still further elucidated this subject in a great work on development of animal life from its first germ (Entwickelungs-geschichte, 1828-37), and one on the development of fishes (1835). In 1864 the fiftieth year of his doctorate was celebrated by the Estonian nobility, at whose expense a splendid volume was published, containing Baer's autobiography. He died November 28, 1876. His works are distinguished by lucidity as well as keen observation and brilliant speculation; they include, besides those above named, a work on two-bodied monsters. His Reden und Kleine Aufsätze appeared in 1864-75; the Beiträge zur Kenntniss des Russischen Reichs (by him and Helmersen, in 26 vols.) in 1864-75.