Xaver Landerer

Xaver Landerer (9 September 1809 – 7 July 1885; Greek: Ξάβερ Λάντερερ) was a writer, medical doctor, physicist, chemist, pharmacist, botanist, and professor. He was the pharmacist to the first king of Greece Óthon. He wrote a large number of books about chemistry and pharmacology during the modern scientific revolution. He was the first chemistry professor in Greece along with Alexander Venizelos. He helped organize Greek higher education. He established the first laboratory for pharmaceuticals in Greece. He influenced Anastassios Christomanos, Anastasios Damvergis and Dimitris Orphanides.

He was born in Munich. He studied pharmacology with Johann Andreas Buchner at the University of Munich. He also wrote articles for his publication Buchner's Repertorium later in life. Landerer was an exceptional student and pharmacist. He was selected as the pharmacist to the first king of Greece. Landerer moved to Greece and remained in the country for the next 54 years of his life. He wrote a large number of books in the field of chemistry. He was the dean of the Philosophical School of the University of Athens twice. The University of Athens was established following the German model. Landerer was a foreigner that adopted Greece as his new home. He fought to build up its educational system and include the new nation in the rapidly evolving European scientific community. He contributed to the fields of inorganic, analytical, medicinal, and pharmaceutical chemistry. He also wrote many books on the hot springs of Greece.