Origins & Early Life

Johann Ludwig (Louis) Gerard Krefft (17 February 1830 – 18 February 1881), was an Australian artist, draughtsman, scientist, and natural historian who served as the curator of the Australian Museum for 13 years (1861–1874). He was one of Australia's first and most influential palaeontologists and zoologists, "some of [whose] observations on animals have not been surpassed and can no longer be equalled because of the spread of settlement (Rutledge & Whitley, 1974). He is also noted as an ichthyologist for his scientific description of the Queensland lungfish (now recognized as a classic example of Darwin's "living fossils"); and, in addition to his numerous scientific papers and his extensive series of weekly newspaper articles on natural history, his publications include The Snakes of Australia (1869), Guide to the Australian Fossil Remains in the Australian Museum (1870f), The Mammals of Australia (1871f), On Australian Entozoa (1872a), and Catalogue of the Minerals and Rocks in the Australian Museum (1873a). Krefft was one of the very few Australian scientists in the 1860s and 1870s to support Darwin's position on the origin of species by means of natural selection.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

According to Macdonald...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Weishaupt — Contemporary (Died in 1830) (1830): German philosopher, founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, and legal scholar.
• Antonio José de Sucre — Contemporary (Died in 1830) (1830): Venezuelan general and politician, key leader in South America's struggle for independence.
• Benjamin Constant — Contemporary (Died in 1830) (1830): Swiss-French political thinker, writer, and republican activist.
• Alexander Fleming — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering microbiologist known for the discovery of penicillin, revolutionizing medicine.
• Alexander II of Russia — Contemporary (Died in 1881) (1881): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Béla Bartók — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist of the 20th century.
• AB de Villiers — Shared historical date (02-17 · Born) (1984): Legendary South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• Adolphe Quetelet — Shared historical date (02-17 · Died) (1874): Pioneering Belgian statistician, founder of anthropometry, and social scientist.
• Amy Tan — Shared historical date (02-19 · Born) (1952): Acclaimed American novelist celebrated for exploring Chinese-American family dynamics.
• André Gide — Shared historical date (02-19 · Died) (1951): Pioneering French author, Nobel laureate known for exploring selfhood and transgression.
• 1830 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1830
• February 17 (02-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 17
• 1881 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1881
• February 19 (02-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 19