Alfred Brehm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Brehm
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Alfred Edmund Brehm
2 February 1829 Unterrenthendorf (now Renthendorf), Saxe-Altenburg
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| Died | 11 November 1884 (aged 55) Renthendorf, German Empire
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| Education | University of Jena |
| Occupation | Zoologist, writer |
| Known for | Brehm's Life of Animals |
| Spouse(s) | Mathilde Reiz |
| Children | Five |
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| Awards | German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Zoological Garden of Hamburg |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | A.E. Brehm |
Alfred Edmund Brehm (born February 2, 1829 – died November 11, 1884) was a German zoologist (someone who studies animals). He was also a writer and managed zoos. His father, Christian Ludwig Brehm, was a well-known pastor and ornithologist (a scientist who studies birds). Alfred Brehm is most famous for his large book series called Brehms Tierleben, which means Brehm's Life of Animals. This book, which he wrote with others, became very popular for learning about animals.
Contents
Becoming a Zoologist
Alfred Brehm grew up in a small village in Germany called Unterrenthendorf. His father, Christian Ludwig Brehm, was a pastor who loved birds. His father was famous for studying birds and had a huge collection of over 9,000 stuffed birds! This collection, kept in their home, showed the amazing variety of European birds.
Because of his father's work, young Alfred became very interested in zoology. However, at first, he wanted to be an architect. In 1844, he started studying with a builder. Then, in 1846, he went to Dresden to study architecture. But he only stayed for two semesters.
Why did he stop? A famous bird expert named Johann Wilhelm von Müller was looking for someone to join him on an expedition to Africa. Alfred Brehm joined the trip in May 1847 as a secretary and assistant. This exciting journey took him to Egypt, Sudan, and the Sinai Peninsula. The discoveries they made were so important that Alfred, at just 20 years old, became a member of the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina. This was a big honor!
Adventures and Writing
After his return from Africa, Alfred Brehm decided to study natural sciences at the University of Jena in 1853. He finished his studies in 1855. In 1856, he went on another two-year journey, this time to Spain, with his brother Reinhold.
After his travels, he settled in Leipzig and became a freelance writer. He wrote many articles to help people learn about science, especially about animals. He wrote for popular magazines like Die Gartenlaube. Soon, Brehm became one of Germany's most popular naturalists and science writers.
His adventures continued! In 1860, he went on an expedition to Norway and Lapland.
In 1861, Alfred Brehm married his cousin Mathilde Reiz, and they had five children. He loved to travel, so in 1862, he accepted an invitation from Duke Ernst II to go with him on a trip to Abyssinia. After this, Brehm traveled even more, visiting other parts of Africa, Scandinavia, and Siberia.
His articles and reports about animals were very popular. Because of this, a publisher asked him to write a big multi-volume book about the animal world. This book became famous worldwide as Brehms Tierleben (Brehm's Life of Animals). Even though some of his ideas about animal behavior are now seen differently by scientists, the title of his work is still very well-known.
Later Life and Legacy
Alfred Brehm's life was very busy. He spent his time writing, going on scientific expeditions, and giving lectures. In 1862, he became the first director of the Zoological Garden of Hamburg and worked there until 1867. After that, he moved to Berlin and opened an aquarium, which he managed until 1874.
In the winter of 1883 to 1884, Brehm planned a lecture tour to the United States. Sadly, just before he left, four of his children became very ill. Since he had to keep his promise to go on the tour, Brehm, who had been a widower since 1878, still traveled. In January, he received the sad news that his youngest son had passed away. After this difficult news, Brehm became ill with malaria, a disease he had caught during his expeditions in Africa.
He returned to Berlin in May 1884. To find some peace, he went back to his hometown of Renthendorf in July. Alfred Brehm passed away there on November 11, 1884. Today, you can visit the Brehm Memorial Museum in Renthendorf, which honors his life and work.
Selected Publications
- Brehms Tierleben (English title: Brehm's Life of Animals.)
- Reiseskizzen aus Nord-Ost-Afrika (1855, 3 volumes, about his travels in Northeast Africa.)
- Das Leben der Vögel (1861, about the life of birds.)
- Ergebnisse einer Reise nach Habesch (1863, about his trip to Abyssinia/Ethiopia.)
- Die Thiere des Waldes, with Emil Adolf Rossmässler (2 volumes, 1864–1867, about forest animals.)
- Gefangene Vögel, with Otto Finsch (2 volumes, 1872–1876, about captive birds.)
See also
In Spanish: Alfred Brehm para niños
