Ernst Stromer

<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: -->Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach (12 June 1870 &ndash; 18 December 1952) was a German paleontologist.

He described the following Cretaceous dinosaurs from Egypt: Aegyptosaurus, Bahariasaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and the largest known theropod, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. Stromer also described the giant crocodilian Stomatosuchus.

Biography

Ernst Stromer had an aristocratic standing in German society (the "Freiherr" in his name roughly equals "baron" in English); his father had been the mayor in his home city of Nuremberg, and his ancestors had been lawyers, courtiers, scientists, architects, and other leaders.

Ernst Stromer was married in 1920 and had three sons, all of whom became soldiers in the German army. Two died, while the third was taken prisoner by the Soviets. Many assumed that he had died, until he was returned to Germany in 1950.

Expedition to Egypt

Arrival

On November 7, 1910, Stromer arrived for a paleontological expedition in Alexandria, Egypt, aboard the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamship Cleopatra. However, Stromer was still aboard the ship two days later because the ship had been put into quarantine; a doctor had revealed a third-class passenger to have a disease he suspected to be cholera.

Finally, on Wednesday, November 9, the doctor announced that the passengers could be released and, after a night's stay at a hotel, Stromer and his companions set out by train to arrive...
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