August Josef Carl Corda`s name on the National Museum building

19. century, 1891 

The pharmacist and botanist August Josef Carl Corda (1809-1849) is inextricably linked with the Patriotic (later National) Museum and his name is listed among the important people directly on the facade of the museum. At the time he was one of the most important microscopists of his time and in Bohemia he is considered the founder of scientific plant anatomy. 

 

In his youth, August Josef Carl Corda became enthusiastic about the broad study of natural sciences, including chemistry, physics, mineralogy and botany. His broad scientific scope was further expanded not only by the study of medicine, but also by contacts with prominent foreign natural scientists, including Alexander von Humboldt. Over time, Corda concentrated more intensively on botany and later became famous for his precise microscopic analyses.

 

August Josef Carl Corda was particularly interested in lower plants and their body structure and published papers on Marchantiophyta. However, his mycological research, in which he collaborated with Vincenc Julius Krombholz, is also important. These two gentlemen are considered the founders of mycology as a subject of scientific study in Bohemia. August Corda became very famous after the publication of Icones fungorum huiusque cognitorum (Pictures of fungi described so far), in which he presented a mycological taxonomy and iconography in 5 volumes (1837-1842) (volume 6 was published after his death). Corda is also the author of a work on moulds and is considered the founder of phytopathology due to his treatise on smut and ergot. Corda`s artistic talent was remarkable, which he used in creating scientific illustrations of various natural history objects.

 

Corda`s phytopalaeological microscopic research is of great importance in the history of natural sciences in the Czech lands. In this area he collaborated with Kaspar Sternberk and examined fossilized plant remains under a microscope. Corda also concentrated on palaeozoological research, which led him, like Joachim Barrande, to study trilobites. Barrande, however, was very critical of Corda`s book on trilobites. From 1835 Corda managed the zoological collections in the Patriotic (later National) Museum in Prague. In 1849 August Corda dies at the age of only 40 on his way back from a scientific expedition to America. His name is one of the 72 names listed on the main building of today`s National Museum in Prague. 

 

References

Janko, J.: Vědy o životě v českých zemích 1750–1950. Praha 1997.

Janko, J.; Štrbáňová, S.: Věda Purkyňovy doby. Praha 1988.

Šebek, S.: August C. J. Corda a počátky mykologie v Čechách. In: Česká mykologie 3/

1984, roč. 38, s. 129–136. 

 

Internetový zdroj:

Möllerová, J.: Corda, August Carl Joseph. URL: https://botany.cz/cs/corda/ [15. 8. 2021]. 

LeO

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