Johann Amman Doctor and botanist Date of Birth: 22.12.1707 Country: Switzerland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Connection to the Royal Society
3. Invitation to Russia
4. Botanical Contributions
5. Correspondence with Demidov
6. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Georg Dionysius Ehret was born in Germany and pursued his education in the Netherlands. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Leiden in 1729.

Connection to the Royal Society

In 1730, Ehret moved to London and became the curator of the natural history collection of Sir Hans Sloane, the president of the Royal Society. His work with Sloane led to his election as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1731.

Invitation to Russia

In 1733, Ehret accepted an invitation from the Russian Academy of Sciences. He became the professor of botany and natural history and established the Academy's botanical garden on Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg.

Botanical Contributions

Ehret significantly contributed to botanical research. He compiled a catalog of plants grown in the Academy's botanical garden in 1736. In addition, he assisted in the publication of the fifth volume of Johann Christian Buxbaum's "Plantarum minus cognitarum centuria V."

Correspondence with Demidov

Ehret maintained correspondence with Pavel Demidov, a Russian industrialist and patron of botany. He supplied Demidov with seeds for his botanical garden.

Legacy

After Ehret's death, his extensive herbarium was acquired by the Academy of Sciences. It contained 4,676 plant species and provided valuable insights into his botanical knowledge. Georg Wilhelm Steller published a description of the herbarium in 1745.