Emil Bessels
1847–88
German Arctic explorer and naturalist. Studied natural science and medicine at Heidelberg and Jena. Took part in a German expedition to Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya, 1869. Lead scientist on US Arctic expedition aboard Polaris, which reached Smith Sound, 1871–3; published the scientific results in 1876. Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1876–86.
Sources
ADB
NDB
Bibliography
ADB: Allgemeine deutsche Biographie. Under the auspices of the Historical Commission of the Royal Academy of Sciences. 56 vols. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. 1875–1912.
NDB: Neue deutsche Biographie. Under the auspices of the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. 27 vols. (A–Wettiner) to date. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. 1953–.
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