Genus Spielmannia

For Jakob Reinhold Spielmann (1722–1783), German physician and pharmacist. He qualified as a pharmacist in 1743 and worked in his family pharmacy until 1755, when he became professor of medicine at the University of Strassbourg. In 1756, he became professor of poetry and, in 1759, professor of medicine, chemistry and pharmacognosy. A highly respected European scholar, he was interested in both the theory and practice of science, especially chemistry. He wrote many books and textbooks that were translated into foreign languages based upon his lectures. He was one of the last chemists of note who supported the phlogiston theory. He was also Goethe’s chemical teacher. For 34 years, he was director of the botanical garden at Krutenau.