Becker, Ludwig Philipp Heinrich (1808-1861)

Born Offenbach-on-Main near Darmstadt, Germany, 5 Sept. 1808; died Bulloo, S of Cooper Ck, Qld, 28 Apr. 1861 [dysentery, scurvy]

Melbourne. Scientist, artist and botanical illustrator, and lithographer. Illustrated works for Ferdinand Mueller including some in early parts of F.Mueller, Fragmenta Phytographiae Australie (1858-1882) and The Plants Indigenous to the Colony of Victoria (1860-1865).

References: M.Tipping Ludwig Becker (1979); J.Kerr The Dictionary of Australian Artists (1992); T.Darragh Ludwig Becker, a Scientific Dilettante Hist Rec Aust Sci. 11(4)(1997); E.Kynaston A Man on Edge (1981); H.Hewson Australia - 300 Years of Botanical Illustration (1999)

Artist, explorer, naturalist. Arrived Launceston, Tas., 10 Mar.1851; then in Nov. 1852 to Bendigo goldfields, Vic.

At exhibition in Melbourne in 1854 showed specimens of algae & fish 'designed to furnish new designs for paper hangings'. Member of council for Philosophical Institute of Vic. 1857.

Did botanical drawings for Mueller (pub. in Fragmenta, Pis Indig. Col.Vic, Pis Indig. Vic), & William Hooker.

Artist & naturalist to Victoria Exploring Expedition (Burke & Wills) q.v., 1860-61, sending back specimens, drawings & notebooks from Menindie.

Commemorated in Disoon, Eremophila, Hovea, Ptilotus.

Source: George, A.S. (2009) Australian Botanist's Companion, Four Gables Press, WA. [consult for source references]