Alexander von Humboldt (Silhouette)
Jefferson displayed this silhouette of the famed Prussian naturalist by Charles Willson Peale at Monticello.
In 1804, the adventurous Prussian naturalist Alexander von Humboldt made a pivotal stop in the young United States to meet President Thomas Jefferson. On this episode of Mountaintop History, we look at this momentous encounter between two revolutionary thinkers, and explore Humboldt's groundbreaking theories on the "web of life," his awe-inspiring travels across the Americas, and his contrasting views with Jefferson on topics like slavery and democracy. Discover how Humboldt's trailblazing journey helped shape American identity and introduced ideas centuries ahead of their time.
Book - "Humboldt and Jefferson A Transatlantic Friendship of the Enlightenment"
by Sandra Rebok, an author, speaker, historian of knowledge, a scientific consultant, and former Fellow at Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies.
