Johann Matthäus Bechstein

Johann Matthäus Bechstein (German pronunciation: [ˈjoːhan maˈtɛːʊs ˈbɛçʃtaɪn]; 11 July 1757 – 23 February 1822) was a German naturalist, forester, ornithologist, entomologist, and herpetologist. In Great Britain, he was known for his treatise on singing birds (Naturgeschichte der Stubenvögel, Natural History of Cage Birds, 1795).

Biography

Bechstein was born in Waltershausen in the district of Gotha in Thuringia. He studied theology for four years at the University of Jena, and spent time hunting and roaming the forests as opportunities permitted. After leaving school, he taught for some years, but gave teaching up to devote himself to outdoor pursuits. In 1795, he founded the school of forestry at Waltershausen, and in 1800, the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen made him the director of the forestry school at Dreissigacker near Meiningen in the neighbouring district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. After the death of his own son, Bechstein adopted his nephew Ludwig Bechstein.

Bechstein was a prolific zoologist and one of the first concerned with wildlife conservation; besides his ornithological work, he also published works calling for the protection of animals that were commonly considered harmful or pests at the time, such as bats. Bechstein's bat was named in his honour.

Partial list of publications

Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen. 4 vols. Leipzig 1789–95; 2nd ed. 1801–09.

Johann Lathams Allgemeine Übersicht der Vögel 1791–1812.

Kurze aber gründliche Musterung aller bisher mit Recht oder Unrecht von dem Jäger als schädlich geachteten und getödteten Thiere, nebst Aufzählung einiger wirklich schädlichen, die er, seinem Berufe nach, nicht dafür erkennt,... Ettinger, Gotha 1792–1805.