1794-1868

German explorer and botanist whose 1817-20 journey to South America yielded over 6,500 plant species, which he presented to the Munich herbarium. Upon returning from his journey, Martius, who had studied at Erlangen University and the Royal Bavarian Academy, published a joint account of the Brazilian expedition with Dr. J. B. von Spix. Martius was appointed a member of the Royal Bavarian Academy, became a professor in Munich (1826), and was made conservator of the Royal Bavarian Academy's botanical gardens (1832).