Dionysus Rudolphus Josephus (Dionýz Štúr) (2 April 1827 – 9 October 1893) was a Slovak geologist and paleontologist who worked as the director of the Reich Geological Institute in Vienna. He dealt with geological mapping and phytopaleontology of Austria, Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. Štúr's research played a decisive role in the fundamental systematic geological exploration of the Alps, especially the Tauern.
Life Štúr was born on 2 April 1827 in Beckov into a family of teachers. His father was Jozef Štúr, who initially home schooled him and his mother was Jana (Johanka) née Riznerová. His remote family included the politician and revolutionary Ľudovít Štúr, who was his second cousin. Štúr had three older siblings. Two older brothers died in infancy, Karol Štúr and Ľudovít Jozef Štúr. The third sibling was Karolína Štúrová.
In 1855, Štúr married the Austrian German Cecilia Artlová, with whom he had no children.
Education Štúr undertook his secondary education at a grammar school in Modra, when his family moved there when he was 12. He then attended the Protestant Lyceum in Pressburg (Bratislava), where he studied philosophy, for a period. In 1844, he matriculated at the Vienna Polytechnic where he studied mathematics and natural sciences. He was particularly influenced by the work of the Austrian geologists Wilhelm von Haidinger and Franz Ritter von Hauer. In 1846 be began studying geology, mineralogy and geognosy at the mineral collection of the court chamber of the coin and mining industry in Vienna (Kaiserlich-Königlichen Hofkammer im Münz- und Bergwesen). The experience led him to receive a scholarship from the Imperial and Royal Court in 1847 to study at the Mining Academy in Schemnitz. In the same year, he published his first paper at age 20, "Geognostische Untersuchungen in der Gegend von Pressburg und Modern" (Geognostic investigations in the area of Bratislava and Modra)
Career In 1849, the Reich Geological Institute in Vienna was established with von Haidinger leading it. In 1850, Štúr was unable to continue his studies at the mining academy due to the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, as his family were loyal to the emperor. It resulted in him becoming an assistant geologist to von Haidinger with a remit to begin field work on a geological survey of Austria. He worked on the survey for a period of 22 years, initially with the Czech geologist and the Slovenian geologist Marko Vincenc Lipold, before working on his own all over Austria. Štúrs high-quality research led to an increasingly senior appointments within his field. In 1867, Štúr was appointed to an Imperial and Royal Mining Councillor. This was followed by a further promotion to Chief Geologist in 1873 and then in 1877 to Vice Director of the Imperial and Royal Geological Institute. In 1885, he was promoted to director of the institute, a position he held until 1892.
Death In later life Štúr suffered from heart disease and died on 9 October 1893. He bequeathed his written estate to the National Museum in Martin, Slovakia.
Publications The following is Štúr's most important papers:
Awards and honors Medals Cothenius Medal in 1890 Knight's Cross 1st Class of the Royal Saxon Albert Order Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold II in 1892
Commemoration The Slovak State Geological Institute bears his name (Štátny geologický ústav Dionýza Štúra, ŠGÚDŠ). The fossil plant genera Sturia Nemejc and Sturiella C.E.Weiss ex Potonié are named after Štúr.
Academic societies Štúr was either a member or associated member of the following academic societies: Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna in 1880. Imperial member. South Slav Academy of Sciences and Arts Senckenberg Nature Research Society in 1892. member. Physics & Medical Society at the University of Würzburg Geological Society of London Natural Sciences Association for Styria in Graz Moscow Society of Naturalists member. Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium in December 1883. Associated member Hungarian Geologic Society Honorary member
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References
External links Czech Geological Survey: Author Information Entry for Dionýs Štúr in the Austria-Forum Literature by and about Dionýs Štúr in the catalog of the German National Library