Background

Karl Ferdinand Roemer was born in Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany. His father, Friedrich Roemer, councilor of the high court of justice (Obergerichtsrath), was of Prussian descent, a native of Magdeburg; his mother, Charlotte Lantzel, a daughter of the last of the independent burgomasters of Hildesheim.

Education

Roemer's early education was along classical lines, but during his Gymnasium days he became deeply interested in natural sciences, especially geology. Family influence, however, induced him to undertake the study of law at Gottingen (1836 - 39) where, on the side, he listened with much satisfaction to the lectures on geology by Dr. Hausmann. In 1840, having abandoned the law, he matriculated as a student of science at the University of Berlin. Here he attended the lectures of Heinrich and Gustay Rose, Weiss, von Dechen, and other celebrated professors. On May 10, 1842, he was awarded the doctor's degree and soon thereafter began his contributions to the Neues Jahrbuch for Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie which were continued at frequent intervals for forty-five years.

Career

In the spring of 1845, with funds provided by the Society for the Protection of German Emigrants in Texas and the Berlin Academy of Science, and with the approval of Alexander von Humboldt, Roemer sailed for America. His special mission was to study the condition of the colonists in Texas and to report upon the natural resources of the country. Of his many publications those resulting from this trip are of the greatest interest to Americans. Omitting letters and briefer articles, they are: Texas-Mit besonderer Rücksicht auf deutsche Auswanderung und die physischen Verhältnisse des Landes nach eigener Beobachtung geschildert (Bonn, 1849), Die Kreidbildungen von Texas und ihre organischen Einschlüsse (Bonn, 1852), and Die silurische Fauna des westlichen Tennessee (1860). The first work treats of a great variety of subjects, personal, descriptive, and scientific, and is accompanied with the first geological map of the state printed in color; the second, a quarto volume, deals with the physiography and geology of the state in general, but particularly with the Cretaceous formations, followed by a description of fossils illustrated by eleven beautifully executed plates. This work, still a useful reference, has given Roemer a permanent place among the geologists of Texas. Long after his return to Germany he prepared and published the third work--a monograph on the Silurian fossils of western Tennessee. In 1848 Roemer became privat-docent in mineralogy and paleontology at Bonn. Later, in 1855, he accepted a call to Breslau where, in addition to his professorship in geology and paleontology, he undertook the directorship of the mineralogical cabinet which under his fostering care became one of the finest in Germany. His success as a teacher was notable and his reward ample, for under his guidance there were given to the scientific world many distinguished scholars. He traveled extensively. It has been said that he visited every country in Europe and some of them several times. The bibliography of his publications lists more than three-hundred and fifty titles. Important among his works is his Geologie von Oberschlesien (3 vols. , with maps and plates, 1870). In recognition of his unusual ability as a researcher, he was the recipient of many honors from both the state and learned societies. In 1885 he was awarded the Murchison Medal by the Geological Society of London. Aside from his scientific attainments Roemer was well versed in the classics. He possessed great aptitude in acquiring foreign languages, a gift of no little importance in prosecuting his studies outside of Germany.

Works

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  • Texas, with Particular Reference to German Immigration & the Flora, Fauna, Land and Inhabitants

    (Written during an expedition to the German settlements of...)

  • Die silurische Fauna des westlichen Tenn. (German Edition)

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • Roemer's Texas 1845 to 1847 (With Particular Reference to German Immigration and the Physical Apperance of the Country: Described Through Personal Observation)

    (Special Heritage Edition of 1983 Eakin Press reprint. Fro...)

  • Texas. Mit besonderer Rücksicht auf deutsche Auswanderung. (German Edition)

    ( Title: Texas. Mit besonderer Rücksicht auf deutsche Au...)

Connections

In the spring of 1869 he married Katharina Schäfer with whom he lived happily for twenty-three years. He died, without issue, in Breslau.

Wife:

Katharina

In the spring of 1869 he married Katharina Schäfer with whom he lived happily for twenty-three years. He died, without issue, in Breslau.