Gregor Mendel

Gregor Johann Mendel was born to Anton and Rosine Mendel in Heinzendorf, a small village in Austrian Silesia (now Hynčice, Czech Republic). He was the second of three children.

Mendel begins his secondary education at the Gymnasium in Opava, where he excels in mathematics and physics, laying the foundation for his future scientific work.

Mendel enters the Augustinian St. Thomas Monastery in Brünn (now Brno, Czech Republic), taking the religious name Gregor. This move provides him with the resources to pursue his scientific interests.

Mendel is sent to the University of Vienna to study physics and mathematics, where he is influenced by the leading scientists of the time, including Christian Doppler and Franz Unger.

Mendel returns to Brünn and begins his groundbreaking experiments with pea plants, which will lead to the discovery of the laws of inheritance, now known as Mendel's laws.

Mendel presents his findings on pea plant genetics to the Natural History Society of Brünn, detailing the principles of heredity that would later be recognized as the foundation of modern genetics.

Mendel is elected abbot of the St. Thomas Monastery, a position that increases his administrative duties and reduces the time he can dedicate to scientific research.

Despite his administrative responsibilities, Mendel continues his scientific work, focusing on hybridization of other plants and weather studies, but his genetic discoveries remain largely unrecognized.

Mendel is honored with the Order of Francis Joseph, an imperial award, in recognition of his contributions to the monastery and the community of Brünn.

Gregor Mendel dies of chronic nephritis in Brünn, Austria-Hungary. His work on genetics would not be widely recognized until the early 20th century, long after his death.