Blumenbach, JOHANN FRIEDRICH

Blumenbach, JOHANN FRIEDRICH, a very eminent naturalist, whose influence extended to almost all branches of natural science, was born at Gotha, 11th May 1752. He studied at Jena and Göttingen, and at Göttingen he became extraordinary professor in 1776, and ordinary professor in 1778. Here he lectured for nearly 60 years on natural history, comparative anatomy, physiology, and the history of medicine. In 1785, consequently before Cuvier, he made natural history dependent on comparative anatomy, and zoology in his hands first attained full scientific rank, the real relations of animals being definitely ascertained. His doctor's disputation, De Generis Humani Varietate Nativa (1775), raised the great question as to the unity of the human race; his Institutiones Physiologicæ (1787), and other treatises, gave a decided impulse to scientific research. His Manual of Natural History (1780) went through 12 editions in 50 years. His Manual of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology (1804) was translated into almost all the principal languages of Europe. The natural history of man was always a favourite study; and his Collectio Craniorum Diversarum Gentium, commenced in 1790, and completed in 1828, gave to the learned world the result of his observations on the skulls of different races, of which he had an extensive collection (see SKULL, ETHNOLOGY). He published other valuable works on natural history, and many essays and papers. Both as a writer and a lecturer he was eminently successful. In 1788 and 1792 he visited England, where he met with a distinguished reception from the most famous naturalists. On the 19th September 1825, his friends and pupils in all countries celebrated the jubilee of his doctorate. In 1835 the increasing infirmities of age compelled him to resign his academic functions. He died on the 22d January 1840. See Marx's Memoir (1840), and the work Göttinger Professoren (1872).