> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 298](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33333437) of TL-2 Vol. V > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/9232-1) LSID 9232-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62118) QID Q62118 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Schomburgk, Robert \[Hermann\] (1804-1865), German (Prussian Saxony; in 1804: Thuringian) botanist and explorer; elder brother of Richard Schomburgk; commercial employee in Leipzig 1823-1828; in Richmond, Va. 1828-1829; in St. Thomas 1829-1830; explored Porto Rico, Tortola and Anegada 1831-1835; from 1835-1839 (discovery of *Victoria regia*) and 1840-1844 in British Guiana for the Royal Geogr. Society and the British Government; in Barbados 1846-1847; British Consul in Sto. Domingo 1848-1857; id. Bangkok, Thailand 1857-1864; in retirement in Berlin 1864-1865; knighted ("Sir") 1844; Dr. phil. h.c. Königsberg 1844, id. Jena 1858. **Abbreviated name**: *Ro. Schomb.* \[standard form in IPNI: *R.H.Schomb.*\] #### Herbarium and types Guyana and Venezuelan collections at [[Collection BM|BM]] and [[Collection K|K]]; other material at [[Collection AWH|AWH]], [[Collection B|B]] (mainly destr.), [[Collection BR|BR]], [[Collection CGE|CGE]], [[Collection DS|DS]], [[Collection E|E]], [[Collection F|F]], [[Collection G|G]], [[Collection G|G]]-DC, [[Collection HAL|HAL]], [[Collection L|L]], [[Collection LIVU|LIVU]], [[Collection LZ|LZ]] (destr.), [[Collection MANCH|MANCH]], [[Collection NY|NY]], [[Collection OXF|OXF]], [[Collection P|P]], [[Collection PH|PH]], [[Collection TCD|TCD]], [[Collection U|U]], [[Collection UPS|UPS]], [[Collection US|US]], [[Collection W|W]]. – Siamese plants at [[Collection K|K]] (240), dupl. [[Collection B|B]] (mainly destr.), [[Collection P|P]]. – The Virgin Island plants went to H.G.L. Reichenbach in [[Collection LZ|LZ]], those from Barbados and Thailand to [[Collection B|B]] and [[Collection K|K]], those of St. Domingo in [[Collection B|B]], [[Collection K|K]] and [[Collection P|P]]. – The Guyana collections listed as by "Schomburgk" will often be from Richard rather than from Robert; some of the "other material" listed above may quite well be of Richard Schomburgk, q.v. (but see Murray 1904 and Steyermark 1981). – 248 original water-colour drawings of British Guiana plants at [[Collection BM|BM]] (Woodward 1904). – *Letters* to D.F.L. von Schlechtendal at [[Collection HAL|HAL]]; other letters at [[Collection G|G]] and [[Collection K|K]]. – Field notes at [[Collection NY|NY]]. #### Bibliography and biography ADB 32: 240-243 (F. Ratzel); Backer p. 519; Barnhart 3: 238 (b. 5 Jun 1804, d. 11 Mar 1865); BB p. 270; BL 1: 229, 317; BM 4: 1856, 8: 1160; Bossert p. 354; Clokie p. 240; CSP 5: 520-522, 8: 879, 18: 571; Desmond p. 546; DNB 17: 926-927, 50: 437-439; Frank 3 (Anh.): 92; Herder p. 59, 285, 289; Hortus 3: 1203; Jackson p. 369; Langman p. 683; Lasègue p. 216-219; Lenley p. 361; NI 1205, 1206; PH 567; PR 8325-8329, ed. 1: 9249-9252; Quenstedt p. 386; Rehder 5: 776; SK 1: 475; TL-1/1176; TL-2/4650; Tucker 1: 634, 3: 273; Urban-Berl. p. 268, 394; Zander ed. 10, p. 713, ed. 11, p. 813. #### Biofile - Anon., Bonplandia 5: 249-250. 1857 (app. consul Thailand (Siam)), 6: 358. 1858 (Dr. phil. h.c. Jena), Bonplandia 6: 52. 1858 (Leopoldina cognomen Aublet); Bot. Zeit. 3: 119. 1845 (knighted), 3: 671. 1845 (Saxonian decoration), 6: 728. 1848 (Brit. consul Haiti), 10: 884-885. 1852 (note on trip in Sto. Domingo), 15: 711. 1857 (Brit. consul Bangkok), 16: 264. 1858 (Dr. phil. h.c. Jena); Flora 12: 640. 1829 (in U.S.A. offers his services to collect plants), 27: 783. 1844 (Dr. phil. h.c. Königsberg), 28: 64. 1845 (knighted by Queen of England), 28: 544. 1845 (Saxonian decoration), 31: 782. 1848 (app. Brit. consul Haiti), 40: 735. 1857 (app. id. Bangkok), 47: 602. 1864 (arr. 11 Oct 1864 in Hamburg, ill.), 48: 156. 1865 (d.); Encycl. brit. ed. 11. 24: 358. 1911; J. Bot. 3: 136. 1865 (d.); Linnaea 10(6): 742. Nov 1836 (note on his first trip in Brit. Guiana, 1835; many plants lost); Mitt. Erforsch. Geogr., ed., A. Petermann 1857: 322 (on expl. Thailand; extract of biogr. notice in Geogr. Almanach 1839: 237). - Blatter, E., Rec. bot. Surv. India 8: 474. 1933 (some Aden plants collected probably in 1857, at K). - Boase, F., Modern Engl. Biogr. 3: 440-441. 1965. - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 435 \[index\]. 1980. - Candolle, Alph. de, Phytographie 448. 1880 (account of coll. Ri. and Ro. S. combined). - Chardon, C.E., Bol. Arch. gen. Nacion, Rep. Dominicana 12: 265-276. post 1949 (portr., handwriting, on his work before 1849). - Embacher, F., Lexik. Reisen 262. 1882. - Foggiti, G., Rep. Bot. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 1932: 284-285 (reproduces Ro. Schomburgk's account of the discovery of Victoria regia). - Harshberger, J.W., Bot. Philadelphia 190. 1899 (came to U.S. 1826, clerk in Boston and Philadelphia; partner in a Richmond, Va., tobacco manufactory 1828-1830). - Jackson, B.D., Bull. misc. Inf. Kew 1901: 59 (3568 pl. at K). - Jardine, W., *in* Natural. Libr. 39: 17-79. 1848 (memoir of R.H.S. prefacing his Fishes of British Guiana, part i). - Kerr, A., J. Thailand Res. Soc, Nat. Hist. Suppl. 12(1): 11-13. 1939 (Siam plants at K, dupl. B, P). - Milner, J.D., Cat. portr. Kew 96. 1906. - Moscoso, R., Cat. fl. doming. 1: xxix. 1943 (on S. in Sto. Domingo). - Murray, G., Hist. coll. BM(NH) 1: 181. 1904 (2341 sp. from Brit. Guiana). - Papavero, N., Ess. hist. neotrop. dipterol. 2: 304. 1975. - Pittier, H., Manual pl. usual. Venezuela 4. 1926 (in Venezuela 1838). - Poggendorff J.C., Biogr.-lit. Handw.-Buch 3: 1207-1208. 1898 (bibl.). - Prance, G., Acta Amaz. 1(1): 57. 1971 (coll. Amazonas, Terr. Roraima). - Regel, E., Gartenflora 7: 199. 1858 (consul Bangkok), 11: 197. 1862 (note on Thailand), 14: 188, 221. 1865 (returned to Europe; died in Berlin). - Reichenbach, H.G.L., Flora 13: 424. 1830 (plants from St. Thomas sent to Reichenbach who will distribute them by sale). - Rodway, J., Timehri, J.R. agr. comm. Soc. Brit. Guiana ser. 2. 3(1): 1-29. 1889 (The Schomburgks in Guiana). - Sabin, J., Dict. books Amer. 1: 25. 1868, 2: 73, 504. 1869, 15: 75. 1885, 16: 257. 1886, 19: 42-44. 1891. - Sagot, P., Ann. Sci. nat. Bot. 10: 373, 374. 1880. - Schlechtendal, D.F.L. von, Bot. Zeit. 23: 131-132. 1865 (obit.). - Schomburgk, Ro., Gartenflora 8: 182-185. 1859 (note on Sto. Domingo plants) (from fl. Serres); Leopoldina 1: 34-39. 1859 (autobiography). - Smith, F., Trans. Entom. Soc. London 3(2, J. Proc): 138. 1866. - Stearn, W.T., J. Arnold Arb. 46: 270. 1965. - Steyermark, J.A., Taxon 30: 817. 1981 (his Roraima coll. are all within Venezuelan territory even when labelled "British Guiana"). - Urban, I., Symb. ant. 1: 152-153. 1898, 3: 121-123. 1902 (biogr. sketch, sec. refs.). - Wilson, J.G. & J. Fiska, Appleton's Cycl. Amer. biogr. 5: 424-425. 1888. - Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti Berg. 3(2): 97. 1903 (on portr.). - Woodward, B.B., *in* Hist. coll. BM (NH) 1: 47-48. 1904 (mss. memoir "on the forest trees of British Guiana"; 248 col. drawings of Br. Guiana pl.). #### Composite works - (1) J. Lindley, *Victoria regia* 1837, TL-2/4650; plate of a drawing by Ro. Schomburgk. - (2) Edited W. Raleigh \[Ralegh\], *The discovery of the... Empire of Guiana*... *in the year 15951*... Edited, with copious explanatory notes and a biographical memoir, by Sir Robert H. Schomburgk,... London (printed for the Hakluyt Society) 1848. Oct., lxxv, xv, 240 p., map. - (3) Translated, with John Edward Taylor, *Travels of his Royal Highness Prince Adalbert of Prussia*, in the south of Europe and in Brazil, with a voyage up the Amazon and the Xingu, London (David Bogue,...) 1849. Oct., 732 p. *Copy*: Ewan. – Sabin 1: 25. - (4) Nya Sverige i södra America, jemte Beskrifning om "Britisch Guiana". Sammandrag af Humboldts, Hancocks, Schomburgk's Arbeten. Stockholm (Fru Ortman) 1841. Oct. #### Travel accounts - (1) J.R. Geogr. Soc. London 2: 152-170. 1832 (Anegada), 5: 23-38. 1835 (West Indian Islands, Virgin Islands). - (2) Ib. 6: 224-284. 1836, 10: 159-190. 1841 (Interior Guyana; Caruma Mts. 1837-1838). (3) Ib. 10: 191-267. 1841 (Rio Branco, Roraima, Orinoco (1838-1839). - (4) Ann. nat. Hist., Mag. zool. Bot. Geol. 1: 63-68. 1838 (letter from New Amsterdam, Berbice). - (5) Ib. 2: 255-266. 1839 (on vultures). - (6) Ib. 4: 266, 322-328. 1839, 5: 29-35, 202-204, 282-288, 343-348, 399-405. 1840 (Guiana). - (7) Ib. 7: 151, 407-427. 1841 (Guiana; on Urari poison). - (8) J.R. Geogr. Soc. London 12: 169-196. 1843 (1841 trip Barima & Guyami Riv.). - (9) Ib. 13: 18-74. 1843 (sources Takutu). - (10) Ib. 15: 1-104. 1845 (Pirare, Upper Corantyne, Demerara). - (11) Athenaeum 1852: 797-799 (Constanza, Santo Domingo). - (12) J.R. Geogr. Soc. London 23: 264-283. 1853 (Samaná, Santo Domingo). - (13) Id. 31: 302-321. 1861 (Thailand). - (14) J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 32: 387-399. 1864 (Laos). - (15) Monatschr. Ges. Erdk. Berlin 1: 196-204. 1844, 2: 66-75. 1845, 4: 62-74. 1847. #### Handwriting Candollea 33: 173-174. 1778; Bol. Arch. gen. Nacion Rep. Dominicana 12: 266. #### Eponymy *Schomburghia* \[*sic*\] A.P. de Candolle (1838); *Schomburgkia* Lindley (1838); many names for orchid hybrid genera are based on Lindley's name. ### Publications ##### n.11.024. A description of British Guiana **Title** *A description of British Guiana*, geographical and statistical: exhibiting its resources and capabilities, together with the present and future condition and prospects of the colony... London (Simpkin, Marshall and Co.,...) 1840. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Descr. Brit. Guiana*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 8 Mai 1840 (p. iii: Mai 1840; copy presented by author to Geol. Soc. London 8 Mai 1840), map, p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-155. *Copies*: Ewan, G, NY. *Facsimile repr*.: 1970, London (Cass), (n.v.), 1970, Clifton, N.J. (Kelley), (n.v.). ##### n.11.025. Reisen in Guiana und am Orinoko **Title** Robert Hermann Schomburgk's *Reisen in Guiana und am Orinoko* während der Jahre 1835-1839. Nach seinen Berichten und Mittheilungen an die Geographische Gesellschaft in London herausgegeben von O.A. Schomburgk. Mit einem Nachwort von Alexander von Humboldt und dessen Abhandlung über einige wichtige astronomische Positionen Guiana's. Mit 6 colorirten Ansichten und einer Karte. Leipzig (Verlag von Georg Wigand) 1841. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Reis. Guiana & Orinoko*. **Notes** *Editor*: Otto Alfred Schomburgk (1809-1857), Robert Schomburgk's younger brother; emigrated to Australia with the third brother Richard Schomburgk in 1849; died 16 Aug 1857 in the German agricultural colony Buchsfelde, S. Australia. – Preface by F.W.H. Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), see TL-2/2: 363-371. *Publ*.: 3-9 Oct 1841 (p. xxiv: Feb 1841; Hinrichs), p. \[i\]-xxiv, \[1\]-510, *6 pl*. (col. liths.), map. *Copies*: Ewan, HH, G, NY, Wurdack. *English transl*.: 1931, by Walter E. Roth, "Robert Hermann Schomburgk's *Travels in Guiana and on the Orinoco* during the years 1835-1839. According to his reports and communications to the Geographical Society of London..." The Argosy Company Limited, Georgetown, British Guiana 1931, p. \[i\]-viii, \[1\]-202, map, *6 pl. Copies*: HH, J. Wurdack. *Preliminary publ*.: Communications by Ro. Schomburgk on his explanation of British Guiana and the West Indies were published by him in the Journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London as follows: 2: 152-170. 1832, 5: 23-37. 1835, 6: 224-284. 1836, 7: 285-301, 302-305. 1837, 10: 159-190, 191-247, 248-267. 1841, 12: 169-177, 178-198. 1842, 13: 18-74. 1843, 15: 1-103. 1845, 23: 264-284. 1853 \[in Siam\], 31: 302-321. 1861. – Another series of papers, on "Travels in British Guiana" and on special discoveries was published in Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. 1: 63-68. 1838 (discovery of Victoria regia), 2: 255-260. 1839, 4: 322-328. 1840, 5: 29-35, 202-204, 282-288, 343-348, 399-405. 1840, 7: 151, 407-427 (on Urari). 1841, 20: 115-127 (Barbados), 396-409. 1847. German reports on the Guiana expeditions were published in the Monatschr. Ges. Erdk. Berlin 1: 196-204. 1844, 2: 66-75. 1845, on Barbados 4: 62-75. 1847. For a detailed list of publications in journals between 1832 and 1863 see CSP 5: 520-522. ##### n.11.026. Twelve views in the interior of Guiana **Title** *Twelve views in the interior of Guiana*: from drawings executed by Mr. Charles Bentley, after sketches taken during the expedition carried on in the years 1835 to 1839, under the direction of the Royal Geographical Society of London, and aided by Her Majesty's Government. With descriptive letter-press by Robert H. Schomburgk, Esq. ... London (Ackermann and Co....) 1841. Fol. **Abbreviated title**: *Twelve views Guiana*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1841 (viii: 1 Dec 1840), frontisp., engr. t.p., \[i-iv\], map, \[v-viii\], \[1\]-38, *12 pl*. (col. lith. Ch. Bentley). *Copies*: NSUB; Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard. ##### n.11.027. Die Barbacenia Alexandrinae und Alexandra imperatricis **Title** *Die Barbacenia Alexandrinae und Alexandra imperatricis*, entdeckt und beschrieben von Robert Hermann Schomburgk... Braunschweig (Druck und Papier von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn) 1845. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Barbacenia Alexandrinae*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1845, p. \[1\]-22, *1 pl*. (uncol. copp. C.F. Schmidt). *Copies*: B-S, HH, LC. – Dedicated to the Empress of Russia. *Ref*.: Schlechtendal, D.F.L. von, Bot. Zeit. 3: 873-875. 28 Dec 1845. ##### n.11.028. Die Rapatea Friderici Augusti **Title** *Die Rapatea Friderici Augusti* und Saxo-Fridericia regalis, entdeckt und beschrieben von Robert Hermann Schomburgk,... Braunschweig (Druck und Papier von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn) 1845. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Rapatea*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1845, p. \[1\]-14, *pl. 1-2* (uncol. copp. C.F. Schmidt). *Copies*: B-S, LC, MO. *Ref*.: Schlechtendal, D.F.L. von, Bot. Zeit. 3: 873-875. 26 Dec 1845. ##### n.11.029. The history of Barbados **Title** *The history of Barbados*; comprising a geographical and statistical description of the island; a sketch of the historical events since the settlement; and an account of its geology and natural productions... London (Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans) 1848. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Hist. Barbados*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1848, p. \[i\]-xx, \[xxi-xxii\], \[1\]-722, *5 pl*., 1 map, 2 charts. *Copies*: HH, NSUB. – *A sketch of the organic nature as developed in Barbados*: p. 573-633 (crypt.: 580-583, phan.: 581-621, vernac. names phan. 621-631, index gen. phan. 631-633). *Facsimile ed*.: 1971, p. \[i\*-vii\*\], \[i\]-xx, \[xxi\], \[1\]-722. *Copy*: LC. – "Franc Cass & Co. Ltd. 1971". *Ref*.: Hooker, W.J., London J. Bot. 7: 47-49. 1848 (rev.). - Urban, I., Symb. ant. 1: 152-153. 1898 (comments on the "meagre" treatment of the flora).