Engelbert Kaempfer

Engelbert Kaempfer
Kaempfer depicted in the cartouche of a map of Japan by Matthäus Seutter based on his observations, c. 1730
Born	Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-09-16)16 September 1651 Lemgo, Lippe, Holy Roman Empire (now Lippe, Germany)
Died	2 November 1716(1716-11-02) (aged 65) Lemgo
Nationality	German
Other names	Engelbertus Kaempferus
Occupation(s)	Naturalist, physician, explorer, writer
Notable work	Flora Japonica, History of Japan

Engelbert Kaempfer (16 September 1651 – 2 November 1716) from Lemgo was a German naturalist, physician, explorer and writer known for his tour of Russia, Persia, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan between 1683 and 1693.

He wrote two books about his travels. Amoenitatum exoticarum, published in 1712, is important for its medical observations and the first extensive description of Japanese plants (Flora Japonica). His History of Japan, published posthumously in 1727, was the chief source of Western knowledge about the country throughout the 18th and mid-19th centuries, when it was closed to foreigners.