Background
He was the son of theologian Friedrich Heinrich Ranke (1798-1876) and the brother of anthropologist Johannes Ranke (1836-1916).
pediatrician university professor
He was the son of theologian Friedrich Heinrich Ranke (1798-1876) and the brother of anthropologist Johannes Ranke (1836-1916).
He studied at the Universities of Berlin, Leipzig, Erlangen and Tübingen.
At Erlangen, he was a student of chemist Eugen von Gorup-Besánez, and at Berlin, he was an assistant to physiologist Johannes Peter Müller (1849-1850). In 1851 he obtained his doctorate with a dissertation involving physiological-chemical studies on the behaviour of some organic substances in humans. From 1853 to 1858, he was associated with the German Hospital in London, during which time, he also served as a civilian physician in the service of the British government in Smyrna and in the Crimea (1855-1856).
In 1859 he received his habilitation at the University of Munich, becoming a honorary professor in 1863.
In 1866 he was appointed director of the children"s polyclinic at the Reisingerianum in Munich. Here he worked together with Max Sandreczky who became his assistant, and probably influenced Sandreczky"s decision to dedicate his career to the care of children.
In 1874 von Ranke became an associate professor, and in 1886, was named director of Hauner"s Kinderspital at the university.