Wilhelm Reiss (13 June 1838 – 29 September 1908) was a German

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althoug ...

and explorer born in

Mannheim Mannheim (; Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (german: Universitätsstadt Mannheim), is the second-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg after the state capital of Stuttgart, and Germany's ...

. Along with Angel Escobar, he was the first person to scale

Cotopaxi Cotopaxi () is an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located in Latacunga city of Cotopaxi Province, about south of Quito, and northeast of the city of Latacunga, Ecuador. It is the second highest summit in Ecuador, reaching a h ...

(1872), and with

vulcanologist A volcanologist, or volcano scientist, is a geologist who focuses on understanding the formation and eruptive activity of volcanoes. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, sometimes active ones, to observe and monitor volcanic eruptions, col ...

Alphons Stübel Moritz Alphons Stübel (26 July 1835 – 10 November 1904) was a German geologist and naturalist. Biography He studied chemistry and mineralogy at the University of Leipzig. With geologist Wilhelm Reiss (1838–1908), he conducted geolog ...

, he was the first to ascend

Tungurahua Tungurahua (; from Quichua ''tunguri'' (throat) and ''rahua'' (fire), "Throat of Fire")) is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The volcano gives its name to the province of Tungurahua. Volcanic activity rest ...

(1873). He initially took business courses in Antwerp, but his interest soon turned towards

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

. In 1858-60 he performed scientific research in Madeira, the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

and Canary Islands. He studied sciences at several German learning institutions, earning his doctorate in 1864 from the

University of Heidelberg } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, ...

. In 1866, with Stübel and geologist

Karl von Fritsch Karl Wilhelm Georg von Fritsch (11 November 1838, in Weimar – 9 January 1906) was a German geologist and paleontologist. He studied forestry at the academy in Eisenach, followed by studies in natural sciences at the University of Göttingen, whe ...

, he conducted research in Santorini. In early 1868, with Stübel, he embarked on an exploratory trip to

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. However, during a stopover in Colombia, the two men became fascinated with the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

, and spent the next several years performing vulcanological, geological,

ethnographical Ethnography (from Greek ''ethnos'' "folk, people, nation" and ''grapho'' "I write") is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. Ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject o ...

and archaeological research in Colombia,

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. In April 1876 Reiss returned to Germany from

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...

, with Stübel continuing scientific investigations in

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

and Bolivia. From 1885 to 1887 he was director of the ''

Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin The Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin (''Berlin Geographical Society'') was founded in 1828 and is the second oldest geographical society. It was founded by some of the foremost geographers of its time. The founder Carl Ritter and the foundin ...

'' (Society for Geography in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

), and in 1888 became director of the ''Berliner Gesellschaft für Anthropologie, Ethnologie und Urgeschichte'' (Berlin Society for

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of be ...

Ethnology Ethnology (from the grc-gre, ἔθνος, meaning 'nation') is an academic field that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). ...

and

Prehistory Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use ...

). In 1892 he moved to Könitz, near the town of

Saalfeld Saalfeld (german: Saalfeld/Saale) is a town in Germany, capital of the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district of Thuringia. It is best known internationally as the ancestral seat of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the Saxon House of Wettin. Geography ...

, where he died on 29 September 1908.

Selected publications

* ''Das Totenfeld von Ancón in Peru'' (Burial Grounds of

Ancon Ancon Ltd is a company that designs and manufactures stainless steel products for the construction industry founded and still based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The main products being "Wall Tie", and brickwork support systems. Ancon is part o ...

in Peru), Berlin (1880–86) with Alphons Stübel; translated into English as "The necropolis of Ancon in Peru; a contribution to our knowledge of the culture and industries of the empire of the

Incas The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...

", etc. ** English Translation: ''The Necropolis of Ancon in Peru: A Contribution to Our Knowledge of the Culture and Industries of the Empire of the Incas'', 3 vols
vol. 1vol. 2vol. 3
* ''Kultur und Industrie südamerikanischer Völker'' (Culture and industry of South American people), Berlin (1889–90) * ''Reisen in Südamerika'' (Journey in South America), Berlin (1890) * ''Geologische Studien in der Republik Columbia'' (Geological studies in the Republic of Colombia), three volumes; Berlin (1892–99) * ''Das Hochgebirge der Republik Ecuador'' (The highlands of the Republic of Ecuador), two volumes; Berlin (1892–1902) * ''Ecuador 1870-74: petrographische Untersuchungen'' (Ecuador 1870-74:

petrographic Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. The class ...

investigations), Berlin (1901).List of publications copied from an equivalent article at the German Wikipedia.

Sources

The Life and Work of Alphons Stübel and Wilhelm Reiss, translated from Spanish
* Parts of this article are based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reiss, Wilhelm 19th-century German geologists Scientists from Mannheim 1838 births 1908 deaths German explorers

See also

Selected publications

Sources

References