biography
| name: |
Humboldt, (Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich) Alexander, Freiherr (Baron) von
|
pronunciation:
[humbohlt]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1769–1859)
|
| biography:
| Naturalist and geographer, born in Berlin, Germany. He studied at Frankfurt, Berlin, Göttingen, and Freiberg, then in 1799 spent five years with Aimé Bonpland (1773–1858) exploring South America. He worked mainly in France until 1827, then explored Central Asia. From 1830 he was employed in political service. His major work, Kosmos (1845–62), endeavours to provide a comprehensive physical picture of the universe. The ocean current off the W coast of South America is named after him. |
|
|
