Paul Erdmann Isert

Botanist, Author

1756 – 1789

79

Who was Paul Erdmann Isert?

Paul Erdmann Isert was a German botanist. Isert was born in Angermünde/Brandenburg, but educated in [Berlin]. He was the first scientist to identify the bird Red Bishop '. He is also known for his attempts to end the Danish-Norwegian slave trade.

He was appointed Chief Surgeon to Christiansborg (Osu, Accra) in Danish Guinea, arriving there in 1783. He sought this position because of his burning desire to collect plant specimens from West Africa. Once there, realizing that the inhabitants had no written language, he felt it his duty to record – for future generationsdetails of all aspects of life on the Gold Coast, as he observed them, thus creating an ethnographic, as well as botanical, work.

After nearly three years on the Gold Coast Isert abruptly determined to leave the country on the first possible ship back to Europe. This was due to his extreme frustration at being hindered from exploring in Ashanti. It was on this ship, a slave ship en route from Danish Guinea, on the second day at sea, that he witnessed a slave rebellion on the open sea, which almost cost him his life.

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Born
1756
Nationality
  • Germany
Profession
Died
Jan 21, 1789

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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