ŠTERNBERG, Kašpar grof von

As the youngest of three sons from a noble family, Š. studied philosophy at the University of Prague from 1779 to 1782 and also finished theological Collegium Germanicum in Rome. Starting in 1785, he performed the role of canon at the Regensburg cathedral and was entrusted with a number of diplomatic missions in Europe. With the establishment of Papal State with centre in Regensburg he performed the role of vice prime minister of this rule from 1802 to 1805 and in 1805/06 became a candidate of the vice chancellor office of the Holy Roman Empire. After the death of his two brothers in 1808 he inherited the family farm in Poland and in 1810 moved to the Radnice near Plzno. Š. chose the Březina mansion for his residence. He placed an extensive English park with botanical garden and devoted himself exclusively to science research. His intensive science activities until his death in 1838 reflected in approximately 80 publications, particularly in the field of botany and paleontology. While travelling abroad, he met important scientists such as: George de Cuvier, Pierre Simon de Laplace, William Buckland, Jöns Jakob von Berzelius, Alexander Humboldt, Lorenzo Oken, Ernst Friedrich von Schlotheim, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and many others. After 1815 Š. dealt with palaeobotanical research systematically and published eight volumes on the prehistoric flora from 1820 to 1838. He is one of the founders of paleobotany as a scientific discipline. With the goal of permanent promotion of science research Š. in 1818 founded the National Museum in Prague and managed it until 1838. International scientific cooperation should, according to his proposal in 1814, be broadened with organization of science congresses, which he regularly attended since 1822. In 1837 he held a 15th Congress of natural scientists and doctors in Prague. Š. strove for the economic development of the Czech lands, especially agriculture and industry and also wrote a history of the Czech Mining. Š. received an honorary membership of many European and overseas scientific societies and colleges for his scientific work.