Josef Bohumír Mikan (in German known as Gottfried Mückehan, 1743–1814), a native of Česká Lípa was an important physician, botanist and chemist. He lectured at Charles University and was even its rector for one year. It was he who founded the first university botanical garden in Prague. From his position as advisor to Emperor Joseph II. and Health Councillor he contributed to the reforms of medicine and pharmacy. He is commemorated by a plaque in Česká Lípa marking the place where he was born in Prokopa Holého Street.

The city of Česká Lípa has put up a not very dignified commemortive plaque on the house no. 150 in Prokopa Holého Street. Although it states it is the house where Mikan was born, it is in fact a house built later as the original one was destroyed during a major fire in 1787.

Josef Gottfried Mikan was born on 3 September 3. He went to the parish school run by the dean`s church of St. Peter and Paul and then to the local Latin grammar school at the Augustinian monastery. The teaching focused on music and science education must have greatly influenced Mikan`s later orientation. He continued his studies first in Dresden, then in Prague and in Vienna where he first graduated in philosophy and then in theology. Once he became Doctor of Philosophy, he went to study at the Faculty of Medicine. His was extraordinarily educated. Beside his great knowledge of many fields, he also spoke German, Czech, French and Latin and could read in English, Italian, Hebrew and Greek.

Mikan`s best known achievement is the establishing of the first ever botanical garden in Prague. It lied in Smíchov until 1898, near the current exit of the Jiráskův Bridge (the street still bears the name V Botanice). Mikan also introduced several new disciplines at the Faculty of Medicine, such as Veterinary Medicine, he had a hand in the establishment of the first chemical laboratory in the Prague Carolinum and was the first Professor of Chemistry in the Bohemian Lands. In his honour, the eminent German botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow named a newly described genus of South American plants with the genus name Mikania. The brilliant naturalist died at age 69 on 7 August 1814.

Connected places: Commemorative Plaque to Vincenc Julius Krombholz in Horní PolicePamětní deska Vincence Julia Krombholze v Horní Polici

Keywords: botany; Mikan; Česká Lípa; memorial plaque; botanical garden; medicine; pharmacy

Hoskovec, L.: Mikan, Joseph Gottfried a Johann Christian. URL: https://botany.cz/cs/mikan/ [2. 9. 2021].
Polák, M.: Před 200 lety zemřel botanik Mikan, jeden ze dvou „českolipských rektorů“. Českolipský deník, 8. 8. 2014. URL: https://ceskolipsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/pred-200-lety-zemrel-botanik-mikan-jeden-ze-dvou-ceskolipskych-rektoru-20140807.html [cit. 2014-08-08].
Večerek, B., Taizich, J.: Josef G. Mikan. In: Českolipsko literární, sv. 3, 1979, s. 119–153.

Commemorative Plaque in Česká Lípa marking the place of birth of Josef B. Mikan (Gottfried Mückehan)