Emil Ludwig Schmidt

Who was Emil Ludwig Schmidt?

Emil Ludwig Schmidt was a German anthropologist and ethnologist who was a native of Upper Eichstätt. He was son-in-law to art historian Johannes Adolph Overbeck.

Originally trained as a doctor, Schmidt was a surgical assistant in Bonn, and later worked as a physician at the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen. In 1869-70 and 1876 he took anthropological study trips to North America, and in 1875 performed research in Egypt. In 1885 he received habilitation at the University of Leipzig, where in 1889 he became professor of anthropology and ethnology. In 1889-90 he performed research in Ceylon and southern India.

In 1900 Schmidt donated his collection of more than 1000 human skulls to the University of Leipzig.