Vigener, Anton

Pharmacist

born: 29.02.1840 in Attendorn

died: 15.09.1921 in Wiesbaden

Vigener joined a pharmacy in Attendorn as an apprentice in 1856, passed the assistant's examination in 1860 and then worked as a pharmacist's assistant in Krefeld until 1863. He studied in Bonn from 1864-65, passed the state examination there and was licensed as a pharmacist. He took part in the campaign during the German War of 1866 as a field pharmacist. In 1876, he acquired the court pharmacy in Biebrich, which he sold in 1895; he then took up residence in Wiesbaden.

He was a town councillor in Biebrich for a time and supported the local beautification association. After moving to Wiesbaden, he devoted himself exclusively to botany. He collected a considerable herbarium on long journeys and through exchanges. He maintained correspondence with many important botanists and plant collectors of his time (Adolf Engler, Theodor von Heldreich, Eugen von Halácsy and others).

Vigener was a member of the board of the Nassau Society for Natural History for many years and headed the botanical department. His herbarium forms one of the pillars of the Wiesbaden Museum 's scientific collection and is of inestimable value for the entire Rhine-Main region as a historical documentation of biodiversity and ecology at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A bastard milk star (Ornithogalum x vigeneri) discovered by him in Biebrich Palace Park bears his name.