Professor Albert Heim. 1849-1937

Abstract

Albert Heim was born at Zurich on 12 April 1849, but spent part of his boyhood in the neighbouring canton of St. Gallen. He graduated from Zurich Polytechnic with a geological study of glaciers. He was fortunate in being a student of the celebrated Professor of Geology, Arnold Escher von der Linth, from whom he derived inspiration that remained with him till the day of his death. Heim continued his geological education at Berlin, and travelled in search of experience in Scandinavia and Italy. His visit to the latter country coincided with a great eruption of Vesuvius in April 1872, which provided him with material for his first scientific paper.