# Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger > German entomologist and zoologist (1775-1813) **Wikidata**: [Q58832](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58832) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Karl_Wilhelm_Illiger) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/johann-karl-wilhelm-illiger ## Summary Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger (1775–1813) was a German entomologist and zoologist who made significant contributions to the classification and study of insects and animals during the early 19th century. Born in Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, he became a prominent figure in German natural history, serving as a university teacher and earning membership in both the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. His short but impactful career spanned taxonomy, ornithology, and zoological research, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of entomology before his death at age 37. ## Biography - **Born**: November 19, 1775 (Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, section of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg) - **Died**: May 10, 1813 (aged 37) - **Nationality**: German - **Education**: Details not fully specified in source material; likely university-level natural sciences education - **Known for**: Pioneering work in entomology and zoological taxonomy; classification of insects and birds - **Employer(s)**: Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (Berlin) - **Field(s)**: Entomology, Zoology, Ornithology, University Teaching - **Memberships**: Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences (1700–1946), Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (founded 1759) - **Citizenship**: Germany ## Contributions Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger's contributions to entomology and zoology centered on the scientific classification and systematic study of insects and other animals. As both an entomologist (zoologist specializing in the study of insects) and ornithologist (scientist who studies birds), Illiger worked to establish systematic frameworks for categorizing various species. His position as a university teacher allowed him to educate the next generation of naturalists, while his memberships in prestigious academic bodies like the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities provided platforms for sharing his research. The Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, founded in 1810, would later become a major center for the research and preservation of zoological specimens that Illiger helped advance through his foundational taxonomic work. ## FAQs ### What was Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger's primary field of study? Illiger was primarily an entomologist and zoologist, specializing in the classification and study of insects. He was also an ornithologist who studied birds, making him a multifaceted natural historian whose work spanned multiple branches of zoology. ### Where did Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger work? Illiger was associated with the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany, which was founded in 1810 as part of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He was also a university teacher, instructing students at a university or college level in natural sciences. ### Was Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger affiliated with any academic societies? Yes, Illiger was a member of two major academic institutions: the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences (active from 1700 to 1946) and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (founded in 1759). These memberships indicate his prominence in the German scientific community during the early 19th century. ### When and where was Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger born and died? Illiger was born on November 19, 1775, in Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, which was a section of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg (established since 1269). He died on May 10, 1813, at the age of 37. ### What is Illiger's lasting legacy in science? Illiger's legacy lies in his taxonomic work that helped establish systematic approaches to classifying insects and animals. His contributions to entomology and ornithology provided foundational knowledge that subsequent generations of scientists built upon, influencing the development of zoological classification systems. ## Why They Matter Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger matters in the history of science because he represented the generation of naturalists who established the systematic foundations of entomology and zoology in early 19th-century Germany. His dual expertise as an entomologist and ornithologist placed him at the intersection of two major branches of zoological study, and his academic positions allowed him to shape emerging scientific disciplines during a period when natural history was transforming from descriptive cataloging to systematic classification. The fact that he earned membership in both the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities speaks to the high regard in which his scientific contributions were held. Though his life was cut short at age 37, Illiger's work contributed to the scientific infrastructure that would later be housed in institutions like the Museum für Naturkunde, which became one of the world's most significant natural history museums. Without Illiger's early taxonomic contributions, the subsequent development of systematic zoology in Germany would have lacked an important foundational voice. ## Notable For - German entomologist and zoologist who lived from 1775 to 1813 - Member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences (1700–1946) - Member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (founded 1759) - University teacher who educated students in natural sciences - Ornithologist who studied and classified bird species - Associated with the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin (founded 1810) - Born in Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, part of the historic Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg ## Body ### Early Life and Background Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger was born on November 19, 1775, in Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a historic section of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg located in what is now Germany. The Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg had existed since approximately 1269, and Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel represented one of its significant territorial divisions. Illiger grew up during an era when natural history was rapidly evolving as a scientific discipline in Europe, with scholars increasingly moving beyond mere description of specimens toward systematic classification and taxonomic organization. ### Education and Academic Formation While specific details of Illiger's formal education are not fully enumerated in the source material, his subsequent career as a university teacher indicates that he received advanced academic training in natural sciences. The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the establishment of numerous scientific societies and academic positions dedicated to natural history, and Illiger's path would have involved rigorous study in zoology, entomology, and related fields. His multilingual name variations (Johann Illiger, J. K. W. Illiger, Karl Illiger, J. C. W. Illiger, Johann Carl Wilhelm Illiger, K. Illiger) suggest he operated within German academic circles where Latin and German naming conventions were both in use. ### Professional Career Illiger's professional career was defined by his dual roles as a practicing scientist and as an educator. As an entomologist—a zoologist specializing in the study of insects—Illiger contributed to the classification and understanding of insect species, which was a rapidly expanding field during his lifetime as explorers and naturalists returned from global travels with ever-greater numbers of specimens requiring systematic organization. His work as a zoologist more broadly encompassed the study of animals across multiple taxa, while his identity as an ornithologist specifically enabled him to contribute to the understanding of bird species. The position of university teacher was central to Illiger's career, allowing him to pass on his knowledge to students at a time when natural history was being institutionalized within German higher education. His association with the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin placed him at one of the emerging centers of zoological research in Europe. The museum, founded in 1810 as part of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, represented the growing institutional support for natural history research in Germany. ### Academic Recognition and Memberships Illiger's scientific standing was evidenced by his memberships in two of Germany's most prestigious academic bodies. The Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, active from 1700 to 1946, represented the pinnacle of scientific achievement in Prussian territories, and membership was reserved for the most distinguished scholars. Similarly, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, founded in 1759, provided another platform for Illiger to engage with leading scientists across the German states. These memberships indicate that Illiger was recognized as an equal by his peers in the scientific community, a significant achievement for a scholar who would die at only 37 years of age. ### Death and Legacy Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger died on May 10, 1813, at the age of 37. Despite his relatively short life, Illiger left behind a body of work that contributed to the systematic foundations of entomology and zoology. His contributions as both a researcher and educator helped shape the next generation of naturalists, and his membership in prestigious academies ensured that his work was disseminated through established scholarly networks. The Museum für Naturkunde, with which he was associated, would go on to become one of the world's most important natural history institutions, housing millions of specimens and continuing the tradition of zoological research that Illiger helped establish. ### Scientific Impact Illiger's impact on entomology and zoology extended beyond his immediate publications and teaching. As a systematist, he participated in the broader effort to organize the natural world into logical taxonomic categories—a scientific project that would continue to evolve throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. His work in ornithology contributed to the growing body of knowledge about bird species, while his entomological research helped establish the frameworks for understanding insect diversity. The combination of his research, teaching, and academic leadership made him a significant figure in early 19th-century German natural history, even if his life was cut tragically short. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. International Standard Name Identifier 3. [Source](https://d-nb.info/gnd/117129275) 4. Virtual International Authority File 5. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-111076) 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. CERL Thesaurus