Franz Leydig was a zoologist recognized for his work in comparative anatomy. Franz was born in Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany, the only son in a family of three children. His father, Melchior Leydig, was a Catholic and minor public official while his mother, Margareta, was a Protestant. The elder Leydig was an avid gardener and a beekeeper, and Franz shared father's interest in both religion and the natural sciences. When young Franz received a microscope as a present at age 12, it helped to cement science as his life's calling.

At the age of 19, Leydig began attending the Universities of Würzburg and Munich where he studied medicine. After receiving his doctorate from Würzburg, Leydig became an assistant professor and taught physiology, histology and developmental anatomy under professor Albert von Kölliker. In 1849, Leydig qualified as a University lecturer. On a trip to Sardinia in the winter...