# Alexander von Humboldt

_Prussian geographer, naturalist and explorer (1769–1859)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/alexander-von-humboldt
Last updated: 2026-11-05

> Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was a German polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and proponent of Romantic philosophy and science. He was the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher, and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835). Humboldt's quantitative work on botanical geography laid the foundation for the field of biogeography, while his advocacy of long-term systematic geophysical measurement pioneered modern geomagnetic and meteorological monitoring. Humboldt and Carl Ritter are both regarded as the founders of modern geography as they established it as an independent scientific discipline.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 14 September 1769 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Berlin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P19))
- **Died:** 6 May 1859 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P570))
- **Place of death:** Berlin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Prussia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P27))
- **Occupation:** geologist; explorer; botanist; geographer; oceanographer; volcanologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P106))
- **Education:** University of Frankfurt an der Oder; Freiberg University of Mining and Technology; University of Göttingen; University of Jena ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P69))
- **Positions held:** Geheimrat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P39))
- **Awards:** Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown; Imperial Order of the Rose; Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog; Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Mexican Imperial Orders; Grand Cross of the Order of Christ; Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class; Order of the White Falcon; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus; Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III; Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art; Copley Medal; Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order; Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky; honorary citizen of Berlin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694#P166))

## Questions

**When was Alexander von Humboldt born?**  
Alexander von Humboldt was born on 14 September 1769 in Berlin.

**What positions has Alexander von Humboldt held?**  
Positions held by Alexander von Humboldt include: Geheimrat.

**Where did Alexander von Humboldt study?**  
Alexander von Humboldt was educated at University of Frankfurt an der Oder, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, University of Göttingen, University of Jena.

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- [Otto Grote zu Schauen](https://diginpl.com/people/otto-grote-zu-schauen)
- [Johann von Dallwitz](https://diginpl.com/people/johann-von-dallwitz)
- [Arnold Sommerfeld](https://diginpl.com/people/arnold-sommerfeld)
- [Heinrich von Schlick](https://diginpl.com/people/heinrich-von-schlick)
- [Nikolaus Georg von Reigersberg](https://diginpl.com/people/nikolaus-georg-von-reigersberg)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Alexander von Humboldt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_von_Humboldt) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q6694](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6694) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Stieler, Joseph Karl - Alexander von Humboldt - 1843.jpg by Joseph Karl Stieler (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stieler,_Joseph_Karl_-_Alexander_von_Humboldt_-_1843.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Alexander von Humboldt, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Stieler, Joseph Karl - Alexander von Humboldt - 1843.jpg — Joseph Karl Stieler, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Alexander von Humboldt". DigiNepal. Last updated 5 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/alexander-von-humboldt. Retrieved 6 November 2026.