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Karl SonklarAustrian geographer
Date of Birth: 02.12.1816
Country:  Austria |
Content:
Austrian Geographer
Early Life and EducationFranz Keil was born in 1809 in the town of Karansebeș, Transylvania (now Romania). From 1829 to 1832, he attended the Mathematical School in Karansebeș, where he later briefly taught.
Military Career and Exploration
In 1839, Keil joined the infantry as an officer and served in Agram (now Zagreb), Graz, and Innsbruck until 1848. During his time in Graz, he studied physics and chemistry at the university. From Innsbruck, he embarked on extensive expeditions into the Alps, becoming one of the pioneers of Alpine exploration along with Friedrich Simony and Anton von Ruthner.
Years of Travel and Education
From 1848 to 1857, Keil served as a tutor to Archduke Karl Viktor in Schönbrunn Palace. In 1857, he was appointed a professor of geography at the Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. He continued to explore the Alps annually during this period.
Retirement and Death
In 1872, Keil retired from the military with the rank of General Major and settled in Innsbruck, where he remained until his death on January 10, 1885.
