Alexander von Humboldt.(his life and contributions to the field of geography)

Jeff Lee describes the prodigious field work and publications of this early geographer

Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was one of the last true generalists in science. While considered a geographer, he contributed to most of the sciences of the natural environment found today. Born in Berlin, von Humboldt's father was Chamberlain to the King, a royal advisor, who died when Alexander was nine years old. As a child, he received a private education and was a slow learner and sickly much of the time. On his own, he loved collecting local plants and animals and rea