# Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber

> German naturalist (1739–1810)

**Wikidata**: [Q162688](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162688)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christian_Daniel_von_Schreber)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/johann-christian-daniel-von-schreber

## Summary
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber was a German naturalist, physician, and botanist who lived from 1739 to 1810. He is best known for his extensive work in botany and entomology, serving as a university teacher and a botanical collector while holding membership in numerous prestigious scientific academies across Europe. His career was defined by his contributions to the study of plants and insects, his academic appointments at institutions like the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, and his recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 17, 1739 (Place not specified in source material)
- **Nationality**: German (Citizenship of the Electorate of Saxony)
- **Education**: Educated at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Uppsala University; also affiliated with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
- **Known for**: Being a German naturalist, physician, botanist, lichenologist, entomologist, and botanical collector who studied plants, animals, and natural history.
- **Employer(s)**: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Q1662834, Q40025).
- **Field(s)**: Botany, Entomology, Lichenology, Natural History, Medicine (Physician).

## Contributions
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber's work spanned multiple disciplines within natural history and medicine. While specific publication titles are not listed in the provided text, his contributions are categorized by his roles and the scope of his scientific activities:
- **Botanical Research and Collection**: As a botanical collector and botanist, he engaged in the systematic collection of plants and parts thereof for scientific research, contributing to the understanding of plant life structure, function, and distribution.
- **Entomological Studies**: Specializing as an entomologist, he conducted zoological studies focused on insects and other arthropods, expanding the knowledge base of animal diversity.
- **Lichenology**: He practiced lichenology, dedicating specific research to the study of lichens.
- **Academic Instruction**: As a university teacher, he educated future generations in the fields of natural history and medicine at major German and Swedish institutions.
- **Scientific Leadership and Recognition**: His work was recognized by his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in London and his membership in the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and the Académie de Stanislas in Nancy, France.
- **Medical Practice**: He practiced as a physician, applying his scientific knowledge to the professional practice of medicine.

## FAQs
**What were the primary scientific fields Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber worked in?**
Schreber was a polymath in the natural sciences, working primarily as a botanist, entomologist, and lichenologist. He also practiced as a physician and served as a university teacher, covering a broad spectrum of natural history from plant life to insect studies.

**Which major academic institutions did Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber attend or work for?**
He was educated at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Uppsala University in Sweden. Professionally, he was affiliated with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, where he served as a university teacher.

**What international recognition did Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber receive during his lifetime?**
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in London and became a member of several national academies, including the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and the Académie de Stanislas.

**How did Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber contribute to the study of plants?**
As a botanical collector and botanist, he collected plant specimens for scientific research and studied the structure and diversity of plant life. His work falls under the broader discipline of botany, which encompasses the study of plant morphology, physiology, and ecology.

**What is the significance of his role as a lichenologist?**
Schreber specialized in the study of lichens, a distinct field within botany. This specialization highlights his comprehensive approach to natural history, extending beyond general botany to specific symbiotic organisms.

## Why They Matter
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber played a pivotal role in the formalization of natural history as a scientific discipline during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. By integrating the roles of physician, university teacher, and field collector, he bridged the gap between theoretical science and practical observation. His membership in the most prestigious scientific academies of Europe—from the Royal Society in England to the Saint Petersburg Academy in Russia—demonstrates that his work was instrumental in the international exchange of botanical and zoological knowledge. Without his contributions as a collector and researcher, the foundational data regarding plant diversity, insect classification, and lichenology would have been less comprehensive during a critical period of scientific expansion. His career exemplifies the Enlightenment ideal of the "naturalist" who studies the natural world in the field, providing essential data that supported the broader scientific community's understanding of biodiversity.

## Notable For
- Being a German naturalist active from 1739 to 1810.
- Holding the title of Fellow of the Royal Society (London).
- Serving as a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
- Being a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Holding membership in the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
- Being a member of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
- Serving as a member of the Académie de Stanislas (Nancy, France).
- Working as a lichenologist, a specialized field with limited practitioners at the time.
- Acting as a botanical collector for scientific research.
- Practicing as a physician and university teacher.
- Being educated at Uppsala University and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.
- Contributing to the fields of botany, entomology, and natural history.
- Holding the author abbreviation "Schreb." in botanical nomenclature.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber was born on January 17, 1739, in the Electorate of Saxony, a state of the Holy Roman Empire. His educational journey took him across Northern Europe, reflecting the international nature of scientific training in the 18th century. He received his education at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, a prominent institution in Germany. He also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden, one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe, founded in 1477. This exposure to diverse academic environments likely influenced his broad approach to natural history. Later in his career, he was associated with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, a public research university in Bavaria.

### Professional Career and Academic Roles
Schreber's professional life was characterized by a diverse array of roles within the scientific and medical communities. He worked as a university teacher, imparting knowledge to students in the fields of natural history and medicine. His primary employer was Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, where he contributed to the academic rigor of the institution. In addition to his teaching duties, he practiced as a physician, applying his medical training to the professional care of patients. This dual role as an educator and practitioner allowed him to integrate clinical observation with broader natural history studies.

### Scientific Specializations and Fields of Work
As a naturalist, Schreber's work encompassed a wide range of biological disciplines. He was a botanist, dedicated to the scientific study of plant life, including their structure, function, growth, and evolution. His work in botany involved the practical aspect of being a botanical collector, gathering plant specimens for research purposes. He also specialized as a lichenologist, focusing specifically on the study of lichens, a field that was relatively niche at the time. Furthermore, he was an entomologist, a zoologist specializing in the study of insects and other arthropods. His work in these fields contributed to the broader understanding of biodiversity and the classification of species.

### International Recognition and Academy Memberships
Schreber's contributions to science were widely recognized across Europe, leading to his election into several prestigious academies. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in London, the English learned society for science established in 1660. In Germany, he was a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the national academy of Germany founded in 1652. His international standing was further solidified by his membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, established in 1739, and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, founded in 1759. He was also a member of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, a historical academy active from 1724 to 1917, and the Académie de Stanislas in Nancy, France, a learned society founded in 1750. These memberships highlight his status as a leading figure in the European scientific community.

### Legacy and Identifiers
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber passed away on December 10, 1810. His legacy is preserved through various identifiers and records in scientific databases. He is known by the author abbreviation "Schreb." in botanical nomenclature, a standard used to credit his descriptions of plant species. His life and work are documented in numerous library catalogs and databases, including the Library of Congress (n86860627), the German National Library (118795449), and the National Library of France (13320497t). He is also associated with the Wikidata item Q162688 and has a dedicated Wikipedia page. His contributions to the fields of botany, entomology, and natural history remain a testament to the rigorous scientific inquiry of his era.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Bionomia
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. International Plant Names Index
7. [Source](https://www.academie-stanislas.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/schreber.pdf)
8. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-5596)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Schreber%20Johann%20Christian%20Daniel)
11. CONOR.SI
12. LIBRIS. 2012
13. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
14. Provenio
15. [Source](https://herbarium.bgbm.org/object/B100241682)
16. [Bionomia](https://bionomia.net/dataset/cafff6a5-1fa4-4a90-a2b3-f3db78b93d02)
17. [Bionomia](https://bionomia.net/dataset/064508e2-255e-4d82-9f13-05d73476cc03)