Johann Hieronymus Chemnitz

Plate representing Olividae from Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet

Johann Hieronymus Chemnitz (10 October 1730 – 12 October 1800) was a German clergyman and conchologist from Magdeburg. From 1759 to 1768 he was Chaplain of the Danish Embassy in Vienna, then garrison Chaplain in Helsingør and Copenhagen.

Johann Chemnitz continued the work of Friedrich Wilhelm Martini (1729–1778), Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet. He added to the three volumes previously published eight new volumes in 1779 and 1795.[1] Although neither of the two authors use the binomial system, they are regarded as the authors of many species which were first described in this work. Chemnitz used many specimens from the cabinet of curiosities of the king of Denmark whose conservator was Lorenz Spengler (1720–1807).[2] Chemnitz began with a collection of half shells before collecting whole shells. His patron was Christian Hee Hwass (1731–1803).[3] The fifth volume describes and portrays many shells from New Zealand and some from Australia collected during Cook's voyages into the Pacific.

Conchylien-Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz is an enormous work published from 1837 up to 1920 with nearly hundred sections, including some 4000 plates. The original work was continued by Heinrich Carl Küster and then Wilhelm Kobelt and Heinrich Conrad Weinkauff.[4][5]

Chemnitz was a promoter of a form of natural theology known as testaceotheology or the use of molluscs for preaching.[6]

He died in Copenhagen in 1800.

References

  1. ^ Bernard Barham Woodward, Authors Catalogue of the books, manuscripts, maps and drawings in the British Museum (Natural History) Vol.1-5, 1903-1915. Supplement, Vol.6-8, 1922-1940 London : BM(NH) 1252
  2. ^ Kaas, P. & J. Knudsen. Lorentz Spengler's descriptions of chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora).Zool. Med. Leiden 66 (3), 31.vii. 1992; 49-90, figs. 1-27.— ISSN 0024-0672. Mitgliederverzeichnis der Leopoldina pdf
  3. ^ Stanley Peter Dance, 1966 Shell Collecting. An Illustrated History. Faber and Faber (London): 344 p.
  4. ^ Nissen, C.1969-1978 Die Zoologische Buchillustration: Ihre Bibliographie und Geschichte 2 vols: 666; xvi, 604 p 2722 ISBN 9783777266152
  5. ^ Annex 2: Collation of the Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet (1837-1920) The American Malacological Society
  6. ^ Jensen, Niklas Thode (2019). "Translating Nature: Changes in the perception and utilization of Science in the Halle Mission in South India, c. 1706-1813" (PDF). Indian Journal of History of Science. 54 (4). doi:10.16943/ijhs/2019/v54i4/49772. ISSN 0019-5235. S2CID 213766307. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Johann Hieronymus Chemnitz.
  • BHL Digital Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet
  • BHL Typescript index to Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet
  • portrait of Gabriel Nicolaus Raspe (1712–1786), the publisher of the first edition of Neues systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet


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