Marcus E. Bloch

Marcus Eliser Bloch (1723-1799) Medical doctor and naturalist is best known for his work in ichthyology.  He was born in Ansbach, Germany.   He did not receive an early education but had some knowledge of Hebrew and eventually learned German and Latin.  He received his degree from Frankfort-on-the-Order in 1747.  He was interested in natural history especially fish, and his work in Ichthyology culminated in the publication of a twelve-volume book “Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische” containing hundreds of engravings of fish.  His life labor on this work is considered to have laid the foundations for the science of ichthyology.  His collection of 1500 specimens is preserved in the Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin.