Engelbert Kaempfer
- Born:
- September 16, 1651, Lemgo, Lippe (present-day Germany)
- Died:
- November 2, 1716, Lemgo, Lippe (present-day Germany)
- Nationality:
- German
- Profession(s):
- Physician, Naturalist, Explorer, Botanist
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Lemgo, Hameln, Lüneburg, and Lübeck.
- Studied philosophy, history, and natural sciences at Danzig (Gdańsk).
- Received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Königsberg in 1673.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as secretary to the Swedish embassy in Moscow (1683-1684).
- Traveled with a Swedish embassy to Persia via Kazan and Astrakhan (1684).
- Worked as a surgeon for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) fleet (1689).
- Spent two years in Japan (1690-1692), residing at the VOC trading post on Dejima island in Nagasaki.
- Conducted extensive research on Japanese flora, fauna, culture, and geography.
- Returned to Europe in 1693, residing in Amsterdam.
- Served as physician to Count Lippe, his birthplace, until his death.
Notable Works
- Amoenitatum Exoticarum politico-physico-medicarum fasciculi V, quibus continentur variae relationes, observationes & descriptiones rerum Persicarum & ulterioris Asiae (1712). This included the first detailed description of the Ginkgo tree to Western audiences.
- The History of Japan (published posthumously in English in 1727), a comprehensive account of Japan based on his experiences and research.
- Numerous unpublished manuscripts and botanical illustrations held in the British Library.
Legacy and Impact
Engelbert Kaempfer's work, especially his "The History of Japan," provided invaluable insights into Japanese culture and natural history for Europeans. The volume on exotic flora and fauna, the Amoenitatum Exoticarum, was among the first publications which included a scientific treatise of many plants and animals from around the world. He is regarded as a pioneer in the study of Japan and its natural environment. The "Engelbert Kaempfer biography," itself, stands as a testament to the spirit of scientific exploration and documentation in the 17th and 18th centuries.