Species Amsinckia menziesii

For Wilhelm Amsinck (1752–1831), German businessman, senator and first Bürgermeister (mayor) of Hamburg, patron of botany and benefactor of the botanical garden in Hamburg. He attended the Johanneum and academic high school in Hamburg, studied in Leipzig and Göttingen (1771–1774) and obtained a licentiate qualifying to take a doctorate. In 1786 he became a town councillor (alderman) managing various public offices, and was elected Mayor in 1802. He took office during the French occupation of Hamburg and was particularly active in the negotiations with the French Republic. He made many improvements to Hamburg relating to land reclamation, educational improvement, lighthouse construction, and island requisition.