Frederick Ernst Melsheimer,

M.D. Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...

(1782–1873; first name also spelled Friedrich) was an American

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

noted for his work on

Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

. He was President of the

American Entomological Society The American Entomological Society was founded on March 1, 1859. It is the oldest continuously operating entomology society in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the oldest scientific societies in the United States. It is headquartered in Philade ...

in 1853. Frederick Ernest Melsheimer's most important work was ''Catalogue of the described Coleoptera of the United States'' (1853). His co-authors on that work were

John LeConte John LeConte (December 4, 1818 – April 29, 1891) was an American scientist and academic. He served as president of the University of California from 1869 to 1870 and again from 1875 to 1881. Biography LeConte was born in Liberty County, Georgi ...

and S.S. Haldeman. His father,

Frederick Valentine Melsheimer The Reverend Frederick Valentine Melsheimer (September 25, 1749, Negenborn, Duchy of Brunswick, Brunswick – June 30, 1814, Hanover, Pennsylvania, Hanover, Pennsylvania) was a Lutheran clergyman and early United States, American entomologist, ca ...

(1749–1814) was also an entomologist, as was his elder brother, John Frederick Melsheimer (1780–1829).

References

* * * * * 1782 births 1873 deaths American entomologists {{US-entomologist-stub