Editing Philipp Franz von Siebold (section)

===Early life===
Born into a family of doctors and professors of medicine in [[Würzburg]] (then in the [[Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg]], later part of [[Bavaria]]), von Siebold initially studied medicine at the [[University of Würzburg]] from November 1815,<ref name="Binsbergen">{{cite web|url=http://www.uba.uva.nl/collecties/object.cfm/objectid=34853D0C-C771-4E13-8B78334417AB31EE|language=nl|title=Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796–1866). Wetenschapper in de Oost|trans-title=Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796–1866). Scientist in the East|author=E. M. Binsbergen|publisher=[[University of Amsterdam]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328203612/http://www.uba.uva.nl/collecties/object.cfm/objectid=34853D0C-C771-4E13-8B78334417AB31EE|archive-date=28 March 2007}}</ref> where he became a member of the [[German Student Corps|Corps]] Moenania Würzburg. One of his professors was [[Franz Xaver Heller]] (1775–1840), author of the ''{{Lang|la|Flora Wirceburgensis}}'' ("Flora of the Grand Duchy of Würzburg", 1810–1811).<ref name="Binsbergen"/> [[Ignaz Döllinger]] (1770–1841), his professor of anatomy and physiology, however, most influenced him. Döllinger was one of the first professors to understand and treat medicine as a natural science. Von Siebold stayed with Döllinger, where he came in regular contact with other scientists.<ref name="Binsbergen"/> He read the books of [[Alexander von Humboldt|Humboldt]], a famous naturalist and explorer, which probably raised his desire to travel to distant lands.<ref name="Binsbergen"/> Philipp Franz von Siebold became a physician by earning his [[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]] degree in 1820. He initially practiced medicine in [[Heidingsfeld]], in the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], now part of [[Würzburg]].<ref name="Binsbergen"/>

Invited to Holland by an acquaintance of his family, Von Siebold applied for a position as a military physician, which would enable him to travel to the Dutch colonies.<ref name="Binsbergen"/> He entered the Dutch military service on 19 June 1822, and was appointed as ship's surgeon on the frigate ''Adriana'', sailing from [[Rotterdam]] to Batavia (present-day [[Jakarta]]) in the [[Dutch East Indies]] (now called [[Indonesia]]).<ref name="Binsbergen"/> On his trip to Batavia on the frigate ''Adriana'', Von Siebold practiced his knowledge of the Dutch language and also rapidly learned [[Malay language|Malay]]. During the long voyage he also began a collection of marine fauna.<ref name="Binsbergen"/> He arrived in Batavia on 18 February 1823.<ref name="Binsbergen"/>

As an army medical officer, von Siebold was posted to an [[artillery]] unit. However, he was given a room for a few weeks at the residence of the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Baron [[Godert van der Capellen]], to recover from an illness. With his erudition, he impressed the Governor-General, and also the director of the botanical garden at Buitenzorg (now [[Bogor]]), [[Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt]].<ref name="Binsbergen"/> These men sensed in Von Siebold a worthy successor to [[Engelbert Kaempfer]] and [[Carl Peter Thunberg]], two former resident physicians at [[Dejima]], a Dutch trading post in [[Japan]], the former of whom was the author of ''{{lang|la|Flora Japonica}}''.<ref name="Binsbergen"/> The [[Batavian Academy of Arts and Sciences]] soon elected Von Siebold as a member.