Schlagintweit, Adolf

EXPLORER (BAVARIA)
BORN 9 Jan 1829, München, Bayern - DIED 27 Aug 1857, Kasjgar
CAUSE OF DEATH executed by beheading
GRAVE LOCATION München, Bayern: Alte Südfriedhof, Thalkirchnerstrasse 17 (02-07-17)

Son of the physician Adolf Schlagintweit. He researched the geology of the Alps and in 1854 he published "Neue Untersuchungen über die physikalische Geographie und die Geologie der Alpen" together with his brother Hermann.

With the help of Alexander von Humboldt the brothers were commissioned by king Friedrich Wilhelm IV to travel to India for scientific research. In 1854 they reached Bombay together with their younger brother Robert. Together with Robert he travelled to the Himalaya, where they climbed the Kamet and reached a height of 6.788 m, a record at the time.

In 1856 he visited Western Tibet. After his brothers left he travelled to Afghanistan. He was captured at Jarkland and beheaded without a form of process because he was supposed to be a Chinese spy. It was unknown in Western Europe how he died until Chokan Valikhanov returned to Russia with his head.

Images

The grave of Adolf Schlagintweit at the Alte Südfriedhof, München.
Picture by Androom (22 Aug 2008)

 

Sources
Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909
Adolf Schlagintweit – Wikipedia


Schlegel, August Wilhelm von

Published: 31 Jan 2016
Last update: 15 Feb 2022