Carl Justus Heyer (9 April 1797 – 24 August 1856) was a German forester and professor of forestry at the University of Giessen.
Life and Career
Heyer was born in Bessungen (near Darmstadt) to forester Jacob Wilhelm Heyer (1759–1815) and Louise née Walloth (1770–1805). Although his father initially wished him to pursue theology, Heyer developed an interest in forestry and, after completing high school, joined his father's master school to study hunting and forestry administration. In 1814, he enrolled at the University of Giessen and later studied at the forest academy in Tharandt. Following his father's death in 1815, he received a scholarship from Grand Duke Ludwig I. He studied forest cameralism under Professor Friedrich Ludwig Walther (1759–1824) and attended classes taught by Heinrich Cotta in 1817.
Heyer began his teaching career at the forestry college in Darmstadt. In 1818, he took up forest administration in Babenhausen, and the following year in the Zellhausen district. After Walther's death in 1824, a new forestry school was opened in Giessen with Johann Christian Hundeshagen as director and Heyer as a teacher of forestry. He was appointed forestry inspector for Giessen in 1829 but left in 1831 due to differences with Hundeshagen. He subsequently worked in the Odenwald under the Count of Erbach-Fürstenau. In 1835, he returned to Giessen to give lectures. He left forestry service in 1843 due to lung disease and devoted himself to writing and teaching independently.
Personal Life
Heyer married Johannette Jöckel, with whom he had four sons and four daughters. His son Gustav Heyer also became a professor of forestry.
Legacy
Heyer is recognized as a significant figure in German forestry science, contributing to both practical forest management and academic instruction in the field during the 19th century.
