Friedrich August Flückiger

Who is Friedrich August Flückiger?

Friedrich August Flückiger was a Swiss pharmacist, chemist and botanist. He was born in Langenthal, canton of Bern, on May 15th, 1828.

Flückiger studied chemistry at the University of Berlin, afterwards teaching pharmacy classes in Solothurn. In 1850 he studied botany at the University of Geneva, followed by studies at the University of Heidelberg. He was the author of the botanical name Boswellia sacra, a tree native to Somalia, Oman, and Yemen that is a major source of frankincense.

From 1853 to 1859, Flückiger was director of Grosse Apotheke, a pharmacy he owned in Burgdorf. In 1870 he became an associate professor of pharmacy and pharmacognosy at the University of Bern, and from 1873 to 1892 was a professor of pharmacy in Strassburg.

From 1857 to 1866 Flückiger was president of the Schweizerischen Apothekervereins. During his career he obtained honorary doctorates from the Universities of Bologna and Erlangen.

Flückiger was the author of about 300 scientific works, and along with contributions made in chemistry and pharmacognosy, is remembered for his pioneer investigations in the field of pharmaceutical history.