Robert Hippolyte Chodat

Who was Robert Hippolyte Chodat?

Robert Hippolyte Chodat was a Swiss botanist and phycologist who was a professor and director of the botanical institute at the University of Geneva.

He studied medicine and botany at Geneva, where he was later a lecturer of pharmacy. In 1889 he attained the title of associate professor, two years later becoming a full professor of medical and pharmaceutical botany. From 1900 he taught classes in general and systematic botany. In 1908 he was appointed rector at the University of Geneva.

Chodat was a leading authority of the botanical family Polygalaceae. In 1914, with Emil Hassler, he collected plants in Región Oriental of Paraguay. He was winner of the 1933 Linnean Medal.