Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied: Biography, Facts and Career

Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (23 September 1782 – 3 February 1867) was a German explorer, ethnologist and naturalist. He led a pioneering expedition to southeast Brazil between 1815 and 1817, from which the album Reise nach Brasilien, which first revealed to Europe real images of Brazilian Indians, was the ultimate result. It was translated into several languages and recognized as one of the greatest contributions to the European knowledge of Brazil at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1832 he embarked on another expedition, this time to the United States, together with the Swiss painter Karl Bodmer. Prince Maximilian collected many examples of ethnography, and many specimens of flora and fauna of the area, still preserved in museum collections, notably in the Linden Museum, Stuttgart. The genus Neuwiedia Blume (Orchidaceae) was named for him. Also, Prince Maximilian is honored in the scientific names of eight species of reptiles: Hydromedusa maximiliani, Micrablepharus maximiliani, Bothrops neuwiedi, Polemon neuwiedi, Pseudoboa neuwiedi, Dipsas neuwiedi, Xenodon neuwiedii, and Ramphotyphlops wiedii.

Quick facts about Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied

• Full name: Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied
• Born: 1782-09-23
• Nationality: Kingdom of Prussia
• Known as: Author
• Wikidata ID: Q61282

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.