Catherine the Great gave this man a golden snuff-box, and his name was immortalized in the name of the flower. He was not a courtier or a trendsetter, he was a scientist.
Russia is an international country. Even Peter the Great introduced a good tradition: to consider as his compatriot someone who cares about the welfare of the Russian state, regardless of its ethnicity and religion. Nevertheless, anecdotes about the Germans, who are afraid of the land of bears and snows, are becoming more and more every century. The biography of this native of Germany refutes all stereotypes.
early years
Johann-Gottlieb Georgi was born in December 1729 in the village of Wachholhagen. His father was a priest. This man was wise enough to let his child choose his own destiny. In order for the boy to do this, the parent from an early age encouraged his thirst for science.
The family lived in Pomerania, so the choice of educational institutions where Hans could go without ruining a poor family was extensive. The young man liked Uppsala University, which was located in Sweden. It was during this period that Karl Linnaeus, a naturalist famous for the introduction of the classification of representatives of flora and fauna, taught there. The student attended the lectures of this professor with pleasure. The result of his studies was a doctorate in medicine.
Fateful decision
A young man with a good education could start earning a living on his own. Georgi moved to Saxony, settled in the town of Stendhal and opened a pharmacy. Expectations did not coincide with reality - the work was boring, and the profits from the sale of drugs were barely enough to feed. In 1769 he left his homeland and went to seek his fortune in St. Petersburg.
The capital of the Russian Empire met our guest not with severe frosts and fierce Cossacks, but with a hospitable enlightened society. Here Johann Georgi met his compatriot Peter-Simon Pallas and the Swede Johann-Peter Falk. The latter was a student of Linnaeus, and from him received advice to go to Russia and make a career there. He was in charge of the Pharmaceutical Garden, so he immediately offered a place to the newcomer. The former pharmacist wanted to start a new life, but when the new comrades told him what his responsibilities would be, he immediately agreed.
Intelligence service
After accession to the throne, Catherine II traveled along the Volga. She noted that not all the country's wealth has been explored, therefore she gave the task of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts to study the resources of these lands in detail. The leaders of the expedition were Peter-Simon Pallas and Johann-Peter Falk, who immediately involved his friend in the business. Johann Georgi was appointed responsible for the search for minerals.
At the beginning of 1770, our hero left St. Petersburg. He had to travel to Moscow and then to Astrakhan. There he was to be met by colleagues. When the team is reunited, they set off towards Orenburg, exploring the underdeveloped lands of Siberia. Johann Georgi was surprised by Russia. He was interested not only in its natural resources, but also in the customs of the population. On the way, he got acquainted with folk art, sketched people dressed in traditional costumes.
Pioneer
Georgi met Falk in Kalmykia and soon took command of the expedition, as its chief fell ill. The researchers went to Orenburg along the caravan route, which is well known to local residents. In the city, our travelers joined the Pallas group. From here, it was necessary to begin reconnaissance of an area that had not yet been mapped. A learned husband from Germany had to master another profession - a cartographer.
The good health and lively intellect of our hero were noticed. When Johann-Peter Falk went to St. Petersburg due to an illness, he handed over his powers to Johann Georgi. In 1772 g.he, in the company of three students, began an independent research activity. He mapped Lake Baikal, described Japan from the words of its inhabitants, whom he met along the way, made a contribution to the study of the climate, flora and fauna of Siberia. On the way back in 1774 in Kazan, the pilgrims met Falk. The unfortunate man was unwell, addicted to opium, and during one of the bouts of melancholy he shot himself. Pallas commissioned Georgi to organize all the papers of the expedition.
Triumphant return
In the fall of 1774, the brave pioneers were in St. Petersburg. Johann Georgi presented the empress with a report on the work done and was awarded a medal. In 1776, the scientist put his diaries in order and sent to print a four-volume book "Description of all the peoples of the Russian Empire, their rituals, beliefs, customs, dwellings, clothes and other attractions." The author himself illustrated his work. The book was published and fell into the hands of Mother Catherine. The Empress was delighted with her, she presented Johann Georgi with a gold snuffbox and contributed to the reprint of his work.
History has not preserved information about the personal life of Johann Georgi. Perhaps he found a wife in Russia. In any case, when in 1778 he was elected a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences, our hero did not return to his historical homeland. He stayed in the city on the Neva and continued his ministry to science. He was in charge of the chemical laboratory of the Academy of Sciences, translated into Russian the works of Linnaeus. Having a number of high titles and awards, our hero received patients as a doctor. The great traveler died in 1802. And in 1803 the German botanist Karl-Ludwig Wildenov immortalized his name by calling a beautiful flower brought from South America dahlia.
