Scholarly and public recognition Alexander von Humboldt

humboldt in berlin 1807

during lifetime humboldt became 1 of famous men in europe. academies, both native , foreign, eager elect him membership, first being american philosophical society in philadelphia, visited @ tail end of travel through americas. elected prussian academy of sciences in 1805. on years other learned societies in u.s. elected him member, including american antiquarian society (worcester, ma) in 1816; new york historical society in 1820; foreign honorary member of american academy of arts , sciences in 1822.; american ethnological society (new york) in 1843; , american geographical , statistical society, (new york) in 1856. elected foreign member of royal swedish academy of sciences in 1810. royal society, president sir joseph banks had aided humboldt young man, welcomed him foreign member.

after mexican independence spain in 1821, mexican government recognized him high honors services nation. in 1827, first president of mexico, guadalupe victoria granted humboldt mexican citizenship , in 1859, president of mexico, benito juárez, named humboldt hero of nation (benemérito de la nación). gestures purely honorary; never returned americas following expedition.

importantly humboldt s long term financial stability, king frederick william iii of prussia conferred upon him honor of post of royal chamberlain, without @ time exacting duties. appointment had pension of 2,500 thalers, afterwards doubled. official stipend became main source of income in later years when exhausted fortune on publications of research. financial necessity forced permanent relocation berlin in 1827 paris. in paris found not scientific sympathy, social stimulus vigorous , healthy mind eagerly craved. equally in element lion of salons , savant of institut de france , observatory.

on 12 may 1827, settled permanently in berlin, first efforts directed towards furtherance of science of terrestrial magnetism. in 1827, began giving public lectures in berlin, became basis last major publication, kosmos (1845–62).

for many years, had been 1 of favorite schemes secure, means of simultaneous observations @ distant points, thorough investigation of nature , law of magnetic storms (a term invented him designate abnormal disturbances of earth s magnetism). meeting @ berlin, on 18 september 1828, of newly formed scientific association, of elected president, gave him opportunity of setting on foot extensive system of research in combination diligent personal observations. appeal russian government, in 1829, led establishment of line of magnetic , meteorological stations across northern asia. meanwhile, letter duke of sussex, (april 1836) president of royal society, secured undertaking, wide basis of british dominions.

the encyclopædia britannica, eleventh edition, observes, scientific conspiracy of nations 1 of noblest fruits of modern civilization exertions first organized . however, earlier examples of international scientific cooperation exist, notably 18th-century observations of transits of venus.

in 1869, 100th year of birth, humboldt s fame great cities on america celebrated birth large festivals. in new york city, bust of head unveiled in central park.

scholars have speculated reasons humboldt s declining renown among public. sandra nichols has argued there 3 reasons this. first, trend towards specialization in scholarship. humboldt generalist connected many disciplines in work. today, academics have become more , more focused on narrow fields of work. humboldt combined ecology, geography , social sciences. second, change in writing style. humboldt s works, considered essential library in 1869, had flowery prose fell out of fashion. 1 critic said had laborious picturesqueness . humboldt himself said that, if knew how describe adequately how , felt, might, after long journey of mine, able give happiness people. disjointed life lead makes me hardly of way of writing . third, rising anti-german sentiment in late 1800s , 1900s due heavy german immigration united states , later world war 1. on eve of 1959 hundredth anniversary of death of humboldt, government of west germany planned significant celebrations in conjunction nations humboldt visited.