Jump to content

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kurz, Sulpiz

From Wikisource
1447098Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 31 — Kurz, Sulpiz1892Benjamin Daydon Jackson ‎

KURZ, SULPIZ (1833?–1878), botanist, was a native of Munich, and a pupil of Martius the Brazilian traveller, and professor of botany. Having quarrelled with his family, he sailed to Java and entered the Dutch service, in which he stayed for several years. In 1864 he was induced by Dr. T. Anderson, who was visiting the Dutch possessions, to return with him to Calcutta as curator of the herbarium, which post he held till his death, to the great advantage of Indian botany. Kurz had an intimate acquaintance with Indian and Malayan plants, and was frequently despatched on botanical missions. He explored Burma and Pegu, and spent three months in the Andaman Islands, of which he gave an exhaustive report in 1870. His most extensive work is his ‘Forest Flora of Burma,’ Calcutta, 1877, 2 vols. 8vo, and many articles in the ‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal’ and the ‘Journal of Botany.’ He died at Pulo-Penang on 15 Jan. 1878, his death being probably hastened by neglect of the precautions needful when exploring tropical countries.

[Journ. Bot. 1878, p. 127; Jackson's Guide Lit. Bot. p. 397.]