Johannes Baptista von Albertini

Who was Johannes Baptista von Albertini?

Johannes Baptista von Albertini was a German botanist and clergyman of the Moravian Church. He was born in the town of Neuwied.

He studied theology in Niesky and at the seminary in Barby. During this period he became a friend of Friedrich Schleiermacher, who later became a renowned theologian. In 1796 Albertini became a lecturer at the seminary in Niesky, and in 1804 was a minister in Niesky. In 1814 he was elected bishop, and in 1824 was chairman of the Unitätsältestenkonferenz, the denomination's executive board, in Berthelsdorf. He was a gifted speaker and a highly influential minister, and in 1805 a compilation of his sermons was published as "30 Predigten für Freunde und Mitglieder der Brüdergemeine".

In the field of mycology he was co-author with Lewis David de Schweinitz of a comprehensive work on Upper Lusatian fungi titled "Conspectus Fungorum in Lusatiae superioris agro Niskiensi crescentium e methodo Persooniana". This publication described 1130 species, of which 127 were considered to be new species.