Stephan Schulzer von Müggenburg

Who was Stephan Schulzer von Müggenburg?

Stephan Schulzer von Müggenburg was a Hungarian – Croatian army officer and mycologist. His first name is variably spelled Stefan Stjepan or István.

Schulzer von Müggenburg was born into abject poverty in a dilapidated castle at the periphery of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His mother died in his early childhood. He was brought up by, and received a Spartan home-education from, his well educated but very strict father, a retired army officer of Saxonian descent, who died when Schulzer was fifteen. Schulzer spent the following three years in a military academy-like company of cadets in Olomouc. After enlisting he spent seven years as Cadet and the following six as Fähnrich. Having finally attained the rank of a second lieutenant he became a captain within the following ten years. In 1821 he participated in the Piedmont campaign. In fighting a fire he lost the use of both hands and was retired from active duty two years later. He however volunteered to establish and manage a military hospital where he fell victim to a disease which left him deaf and vision impaired. He was married and had two daughters.