Estonia

In 1812, Baer was a volunteer in the war against Napoleon's invasion, serving as doctor. In 1817, he became a professor at Königsberg University (Kaliningrad) and full professor of zoology in 1821, and of anatomy in 1826. In 1829 he taught briefly in St Petersburg, but returned to Königsberg. In 1834 Baer moved back to St Petersburg and joined the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences, first in zoology (1834–46) and then in comparative anatomy and physiology (1846–62). His interests while there were anatomy, ichthyology, ethnography, anthropology and geography. The last years of his life (1867–76) were spent in Dorpat (Tartu), where he became one of the leading critics of the theories of Charles Darwin.

Estonia 2Kroon 1992 UNC
Front: Anthropologist, naturalist, geographer and biologist Karl Ernst von Baer
Back: A view of Tartu University (founded in 1632); Watermark: Karl Ernst von Baer

Karl Ernst von Baer



The university in 1860

The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia, it is the highest-ranked university in Estonia as well as one of the highest-ranked in former Eastern Europe. The University of Tartu is a member of the Coimbra Group and was established by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1632, thus being the oldest university in the region. At different times during its history the University of Tartu was known as Academia Gustaviana, University of Dorpat, Universität (zu) Dorpat, University of Yuryev, and Tartu State University (Tartu Riiklik Ülikool).