Kaempfer, Engelbert

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Kaempfer, Engelbert

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Rose, peony and clematis Author and Discoverer

Listing last updated on Wed Aug 2024

Germany

Engelbert Kaempfer (September 16, 1651 Lemgo - November 2, 1716 Lieme), German physician, traveller and botanist ("Kaempf.")

[From the website of the British Museum:] Famous German physician and traveller to Middle East and Asia, particularly Japan. Born Lemgo, travelled to Poland and Sweden as student. Joined Swedish embassy in 1683 which went via Russia to Persia (Isfahan). 1685-88 employed by the Dutch East India Company as physician at Isfahan and Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Later travelled via India to Batavia (Java). In 1690 to Nagasaki, Japan as doctor to Dutch station. Accompanied two embassies to the shogun in Edo [Tokyo] in 1691 and 1692. Returned to Java late 1692, thence via Cape of Good Hope to Amsterdam in 1693. Returned to Lemgo in 1694 as physician, where remained until his death.
The only book he published in his life was in 1712, 'Amoenitates exoticae'. His literary remains (although not his library) were purchased by Sloane in 1723/25, and it was Sloane who got the unpublished manuscript of his treatise on the history of Japan translated into English by Scheuchzer and printed in two volumes in London in 1727. This became a standard source of western knowledge of the country until the 19th century. Kaempfer not only made copious notes and drawings on his journeys (including some of the first drawings of Achaemenid monuments in Iran) but he also formed remarkable collections. Most of these are in the BL, but important elements are in the BM (Departments of Asia and Middle East). Most of Sloane's Japanese material must come from him.