Friedrich Welwitsch

  Friedrich Martin Josef Welwitsch (25 February 1806 – 20 October 1872; also Friderik Martin Jožef Velbič or Friedrich Martin Josef Velbitsch) was a Slovenian explorer and botanist. He was born in Maria Saal, Austria to a Slovenian farmer. His claim to fame came when the Portuguese government sent him to Angola, then a Portuguese colony. Here he discovered the famous Welwitschia mirabilis also (also velbičica or velbitschia) which was named after him. He died in London.