Nees von Esenbeck was born in
Schloss Reichenberg near
Reichelsheim (Odenwald) in
Hesse, Germany. He showed an early interest in science and, after receiving his primary education in
Darmstadt, went on to the
University of Jena and obtained his degree in
biology (natural history) and
medicine in 1800. He practiced as a physician for
Francis I (Erbach-Erbach), but he had developed a great interest in botany during his university studies which caused him to return to academia. In 1816, he joined the
Leopoldina Academy, which was one of the most prestigious institutions in Europe. In 1817, he was appointed professor of botany at the
University of Erlangen. Three years later, he became professor of natural history at the
University of Bonn, where he established the
Botanische Gärten der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. In 1831, he was appointed as a chair of botany department at the
University of Breslau. In 1818, he was elected president of the Leopoldina Academy. He continued as president of the academy for the rest of his life. In botany he achieved notoriety for his contributions to the families
Acanthaceae and
Lauraceae. He also became politically active in the
German revolutions of 1848–1849. In 1851, due to conflicts with the government, he was deprived of his professorship and pension at Breslau. Seven years later, Nees von Esenbeck died essentially penniless in Breslau. He was an older brother to botanist
Theodor Friedrich Ludwig Nees von Esenbeck (1787–1837). ==Eponyms==