Gustav Hermann Nachtigal

German physician, consul-general and explorer of Central and West Africa (1834–1885)
Person human Q60549
Gustav Hermann Nachtigal
Erwin Hanfstaengl · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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Gustav Hermann Nachtigal was born on February 23, 1834, in Eichstedt [1][2][3][4][5]. A citizen of the Kingdom of Prussia , he pursued education at the University of Greifswald, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and the University of Würzburg . Nachtigal worked as an explorer, writer, botanical collector, and botanist [6][7][8].

He received notable awards, including the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations and the Founder’s Medal [9]. His affiliations included the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Corps Pomerania Greifswald, and Corps Nassovia Würzburg . Nachtigal died on April 20, 1885, in Cape Palmas due to drowning [3][5].

Key Facts

  • Place of burial: Douala[11]
  • Country of citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia[12]
  • Occupation: diplomat[13], physician[14]
  • Field of work: botany[15]
  • Position held: Reichskommissar[16]
  • Educated at: University of Greifswald[17], Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg[18], University of Würzburg[19]
  • Award received: Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations[20], Founder’s Medal[21]
  • Member of: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina[22], Corps Pomerania Greifswald[23], Corps Nassovia Würzburg[24]
  • Sex or gender: male[25]
  • Commons category: Gustav Nachtigal[26]
  • Archives at: Berlin State Library[27], Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography[28], Gotha Research Library[29], Geographische Zentralbibliothek[30]
  • Cause of death: drowning[31]
  • Family name: Nachtigal[32]
  • Given name: Gustav[33]
  • Topic's main category: Category:Gustav Nachtigal[34]
  • Commons gallery: Gustav Nachtigal[35]
  • Work location: Kamerun[36], German South-West Africa[37], Togoland[38]
  • Described by source: Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)[39], Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie[40], Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary[41], New Encyclopedic Dictionary[42], The Nuttall Encyclopædia[43], Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947)[44], Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th edition (1885–1890)[45], Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition[46], Africa: An Encyclopedic Reference[47]
  • Languages spoken, written or signed: German[48]
  • Affiliation: Gouvernement von Kamerun[49], Gouvernement von Deutsch-Südwestafrika[50]
  • Commons Creator page: Gustav Nachtigal[51]
  • Name in native language: Gustav Nachtigal[52]
  • Different from: Gustav Nachtigal[53]

Body

Works and Contributions

Things named for Gustav Hermann Nachtigal include Mimi of Nachtigal[54], a language[55], in Chad[56]; médaille Gustav-Nachtigal[57], an award[58]; and Nachtigal Glacier[59], a glacier[60], in United Kingdom[61].

Why It Matters

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal has Wikipedia articles in 18 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[62] He is known by 38 alternative names across languages and contexts.[63]

He is credited with the discovery of Trou au Natron[64], a mountain[65], in Chad[66]. Entities named for him include Mimi of Nachtigal[54], a language[55], in Chad[56]; médaille Gustav-Nachtigal[57], an award[58]; and Nachtigal Glacier[59], a glacier[60], in United Kingdom[61].

FAQs

Where was Gustav Hermann Nachtigal born?

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal was born in Eichstedt[2].

Where did Gustav Hermann Nachtigal die?

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal passed away in Cape Palmas[4].

What did Gustav Hermann Nachtigal do for work?

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal worked as an explorer[5], writer[6], botanical collector[7], botanist[8], and Africanist[9].

Where did Gustav Hermann Nachtigal go to school?

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal was educated at University of Greifswald[17], Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg[18], and University of Würzburg[19].

What awards did Gustav Hermann Nachtigal receive?

Honors received include Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations[20] and Founder’s Medal[21].

What did Gustav Hermann Nachtigal discover?

Gustav Hermann Nachtigal is credited as discoverer of Trou au Natron[64].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] ↑ . Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] ↑ . Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [25] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  4. [12] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  5. [16] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  6. [17] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  7. [18] ↑ . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [19] ↑ . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [15] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  10. [5] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [6] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  12. [7] ↑ . Bionomia. Retrieved . bionomia.net. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  13. [8] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  14. [9] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  15. [13] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  16. [14] ↑ . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [11] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  18. [20] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  19. [21] ↑ . Gold Medal Recipients. wikidata.org.
  20. [26] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  21. [22] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  22. [23] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  23. [24] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  24. [27] ↑ . kalliope-verbund.info. kalliope-verbund.info. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [28] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  26. [29] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  27. [30] ↑ . kalliope-verbund.info. kalliope-verbund.info. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  28. [31] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  29. [1] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  30. [3] ↑ . Brockhaus Enzyklopädie. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  31. [32] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  32. [33] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  33. [34] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  34. [35] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  35. [36] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  36. [37] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  37. [38] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  38. [39] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  39. [40] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  40. [41] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  41. [42] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  42. [43] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  43. [44] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  44. [45] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  45. [46] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  46. [47] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  47. [48] ↑ . BnF authorities. Retrieved . data.bnf.fr. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  48. [49] ↑ . deutsche-schutzgebiete.de. deutsche-schutzgebiete.de. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  49. [50] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  50. [51] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  51. [52] ↑ . wikidata.org.
  52. [53] ↑ . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [64] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [54] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [57] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [59] ↑ . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [65] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [66] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [55] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [56] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [58] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [60] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [61] ↑ . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] ↑ . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [62] ↑ . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [63] ↑ . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Gustav Hermann Nachtigal. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/gustav-hermann-nachtigal
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 1d ago · OKA bot bot · 2026-10-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Wikipedia languages → ['af', 'arz', 'avk', 'bg', 'ca', 'commons', 'de', 'el', 'en', 'es', 'eu', 'fa',
    Claims rich → —
    "/* wbeditentity-statements-multiple-properties-update:0||4 */ source for place of birth, source for place of death, source for date of birth, source for date of death from Store norske leksikon ([[Wik"
  2. 10w ago · Printstream · 2026-08-06 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Gnd id → 118586173, 1243980915
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/45810|batch #45810]]: add missing GNDs"
  3. 14w ago · Susmuffin · 2026-07-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Harper's tag → gustav-nachtigal
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ Harper's tag: gustav-nachtigal, Matched to [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/entry/289934753|gustav nachtigal (#289934753)]] in [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/catalog/7915|Harpe"
  4. 16w ago · Printstream · 2026-06-26 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14536 → 349231
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14536: 349231, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782462304762"
  5. 21w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation → explorer, writer, botanical collector +4
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32119|batch #32119]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (32)"
  6. 24w ago · Mewa767 · 2026-05-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Commons creator page → Gustav Nachtigal
    Local thumb → —
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Commons creator page: Gustav Nachtigal"
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