Education
Karl Kraepelin studied natural sciences in Göttingen and Leipzig, and after his Doctor of Philosophy in 1873, was professor of mathematics and sciences in Leipzig and Hamburg.
Karl Kraepelin studied natural sciences in Göttingen and Leipzig, and after his Doctor of Philosophy in 1873, was professor of mathematics and sciences in Leipzig and Hamburg.
From 1889–1914 he was Director of the Naturhistorisches Museum Hamburg, which was destroyed during World World War II, and worked on myriapods from 1901–1916. He was one of 7 children of scholar, stage actor and singer Karl Kraepelin (1817–1882), who had also founded a theological college. Between 1903 and 1904 Karl, accompanied by Emil, set out on a five-month voyage, visiting Ceylon, India, Singapore and Java, and in 1908 they undertook a two-month trip to the United States.
Kraepelin gained worldwide recognition for his commitment to reform science education in schools.
He authored several books on botany and zoology, among which, Leitfaden für den Unterricht an Botanischen mittleren und höheren Schulen ("Guide for botany classes in middle and high schools"). Numerous species were named in his honour, e.g.
Boiga kraepelini, the square-headed cat snake, Physocypria kraepelini (an ostracod), Clavatula kraepelini (a sea-snail), Tetramorium kraepelini (an ant), Iurus kraepelini (a scorpion) and many others
In 1884 he became a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. He was a member of the Assembly of University Professors of Hamburg from 1901 and the Faculty Council of Colonial Institute from 1908.
