Background
Schweinitz, Lewis David Von was born on February 13, 1780 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Baron Hans Christian Alexander and Anna Dorothea Elizabeth (de Watteville) von Schweinitz.
Schweinitz, Lewis David Von was born on February 13, 1780 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Baron Hans Christian Alexander and Anna Dorothea Elizabeth (de Watteville) von Schweinitz.
Entered Moravian Theological Seminary, Niesky, Silesia, Germany, 1798.
Teacher, Moravian Theological Seminary, Niesky, 1800-1807. Pastor, Gnadenberg, Germany, 1807-1814, Gnadou, Saxony, 1807-1812. General agent Moravian Church, Salem, North Carolina, 1812-1821, administrator Northern province, 1821-1834.
1st to describe fungi in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Discovered over 1,000 new species. Wrote Fungi of Lusatia, 1805, Fungi of North Caroline, 1818, a pamphlet describing 76 Hepaticae, 1821, a monograph on genus Viola, naming 5 new species which he submitted to American Journal of Science, 1821, Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of Saint Peter’s River, 1824.
Published his greatest work A Synopsis of North American Fungi, 1831, contained description of 3,098 species belonging to 246 genera (of which he discovered 1,203 species and 7 genera) Schweinitzia Ororata (North Atlantic plant) named in his honor.
Married Louisa Amelia Ledoux, 4 children including Edmund Alexander de Schweinitz.