GMELIN, JOHN GEORGE, M. D. public lecturer on botany and physic at Tübingen, member of the Royal Society of Gottingen, and of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, was born on the 12th of August 1709, at Tübingen, where his father was an apothecary. Such was his diligence while at school, that he was qualified to attend the academical lectures at the age of 14, and was created doctor of medicine when only 19. He paid a visit about this time to the metropolis of the Russian empire, that he might have the pleasure of seeing some of his former teachers. There he became acquainted with Blumentrost, director of the academy, who introduced him to the meetings of the members, and procured for him an annual pension. At Peterburgh he was so much esteemed, that when he intimated a wish in 1729 to return to Tübingen, he was honoured with a place among the regular members of the academy, and chosen professor of chemistry and natural history in the year 1731. In order to carry into execution a plan which had been formed by Peter the Great, for exploring a passage to China and Japan along the coast of the Russian empire, Gmelin
Gmelin was selected along with two others, as properly qualified for that undertaking, and likewise to ascertain the boundaries of Siberia. The department of natural history was assigned to our author. He had with him and his companions, six students, two draftsmen, two hunters, two miners, four land-surveyors, and 12 soldiers, with a sergeant and drummer. They began their journey on the 19th of August 1733; and in 1736, Steller and a painter joined their society, in order to assist Gmelin in his arduous labours.
By exploring Kamtschatka, they hoped to accomplish their mission in a satisfactory manner, for which purpose Steller proceeded to this place, and the rest of the society continued their travels through Siberia. In February 1743 Gmelin returned to Peterburgh in safety after a dangerous journey which lasted nine years and a half, but proved of the utmost importance to various branches of science. He resumed the offices which he had filled before; and having paid a visit in 1747 to his native country, he was chosen professor, while absent, in the room of Bachmeister deceased. He was seized with a violent fever in May 1755, which put a period to his valuable life, in the 45th year of his age. He was undoubtedly one of the most eminent botanists of the last century, and has rendered his name immortal by his Flora Sibirica, seu historia plantarum Siberie, in four parts, large quarto. He determined the boundaries between Europe and Asia, which every celebrated geographer has adopted since his day. Through all his works the traces of great modesty, a sacred regard to truth, and the most extensive knowledge of nature, are remarkably conspicuous.