Robert Koch
Born 1843 · Age 182
German physician and microbiologist; discovered causative agents of anthrax, tuberculosis and cholera; pioneer of modern bacteriology and public health; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1905.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Clausthal, Kingdom of Hanover
Born Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch in Clausthal, Upper Harz Mountains, son of a mining engineer Hermann Koch.
Taught himself to read
At about age five, he taught himself to read using newspapers — early sign of intellect and persistence.
Completed secondary education and entered University of Göttingen
Completed Gymnasium and in 1862 entered University of Göttingen to study natural sciences (later medicine).
Assistant in University Pathological Museum
Appointed assistant in the University of Göttingen's Pathological Museum while studying; worked with anatomist Jacob Henle.
Graduated M.D. maxima cum laude
Completed medical degree (M.D.) in January 1866 with highest honours (maxima cum laude).
Assistant at General Hospital of Hamburg
Briefly worked as an assistant in the General Hospital at Hamburg after graduation.
Junior physician at Langenhagen psychiatric hospital
Moved in October 1866 to Idiot's Hospital (KRH Psychiatrie Langenhagen) near Hanover as a junior physician.
Married Emma (Emmy) Fraatz
Robert Koch married Emmy Fraatz (Emmy Adolfine Josephine Fraatz).
Daughter Gertrud born (one reported date)
Sources in the provided text give Gertrud (Gertrude) birthdates both 1865 and 1868; one report states 1868.
Passed District Medical Officer’s Examination at Rackwitz
Settled in general practice and passed the District Medical Officer’s examination at Rackwitz (Rakwitz) in the Province of Posen.
Volunteer service in Franco‑Prussian War
Volunteered for medical service during the Franco-Prussian War (1870) as a surgeon/medical officer.
Discharged from military service
Discharged from war service and returned to civilian medical practice the following year.
Appointed District Medical Officer for Wollstein
Became Kreisphysikus (district medical officer) at Wollstein (now Wolsztyn) and set up a private laboratory in his home.
Received microscope from his wife; began microbiology work
As family settled in Wollstein his wife gifted him a microscope which enabled his laboratory studies on anthrax and bacteria.
Published anthrax etiology (Die Ätiologie der Milzbrand-Krankheit)
Published ground‑breaking work demonstrating Bacillus anthracis as cause of anthrax and described spore formation; regarded as birth of modern bacteriology.
First photomicrography and structure paper on anthrax
Published 1877 paper on methods to investigate, preserve and photograph bacteria — first photographs of bacteria.
Published work on bacterial wound infections
Published results on bacteria causing wound infections and methods to control them (1878).
Transferred to Breslau as district physician
Moved to Breslau (Wrocław) as district physician; continued bacteriological research and collaborations.
Appointed Government Advisor, Imperial Health Office, Berlin
Appointed to the Reichs-Gesundheitsamt (Imperial Health Bureau) in Berlin; provided with lab space and assistants (Loeffler, Gaffky).
Published 'Zur Untersuchung von Pathogenen Organismen' (methods booklet)
Published the influential methods booklet ('Bible of Bacteriology') describing agar plate culture technique and moist chamber.
Started using agar as culture medium (influenced by Walther/Fanny Hesse)
Adopted agar for solid media (circa 1881) enabling growth of bacteria at 37°C and stable pure cultures.
Public demonstration of plating method at 7th International Medical Congress (London)
Demonstrated his plating/microscopy techniques in London; Louis Pasteur praised the work publicly.
Announced discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Presented to the Berlin Physiological Society and published that tubercle bacillus causes tuberculosis; this date (24 March) later became World Tuberculosis Day.
Promoted to Geheimer Regierungsrat (senior executive)
Following TB discovery, promoted to the senior executive civil service rank (Geheimer Regierungsrat) in June 1882.
Leader of German Cholera Commission to Egypt
Sent to Alexandria in 1883 to investigate cholera outbreak; then transferred to India for more severe outbreak investigations.
Published expanded work on tuberculosis (Die Ätiologie der Tuberkulose)
Expanded his 1882 report into a fuller booklet published 1884 detailing methods and evidence linking bacillus to tuberculosis.
Isolated the cholera bacterium in Calcutta
Obtained pure culture of the comma-shaped cholera vibrio on 7 January 1884 during cholera investigations in India.
Appointed Professor of Hygiene and Director of Institute of Hygiene, University of Berlin
Received dual appointment as Chair (Professor of Hygiene) and Director of newly established Hygienic Institute in Berlin (1885).
Julius Petri publishes modification leading to 'Petri dish'
Koch's assistant Julius Richard Petri published a modification eliminating the glass plate and using a shallow glass dish as culture container; became known as the Petri dish.
Announced tuberculin (first 'old' preparation) publicly
Made a public, vague announcement (August 1890) claiming a glycerine extract 'tuberculin' could prevent/treat tuberculosis (later controversy).
Reported human trials and demonstrations with tuberculin
By late 1890 Koch reported tests and demonstrations of tuberculin in humans; public and clinical reaction followed.
Knight Grand Cross, Prussian Order of the Red Eagle
Awarded the Knight Grand Cross in the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle (official date 19 November 1890).
Published clinical report on tuberculin (Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, 15 Jan 1891)
Published his experiments and clinical observations on tuberculin in Jan 1891; English translations appeared simultaneously in BMJ, Nature and The Lancet.
Became Director of Royal Prussian Institute for Infectious Diseases (founded)
Relinquished professorship and in 1891 took directorship of the newly created Royal Prussian Institute for Infectious Diseases (later Robert Koch Institute).
Official report: tuberculin not a cure
By late 1891 German official reports concluded tuberculin did not cure tuberculosis; public confidence and Koch's reputation were damaged.
Marriage to actress Hedwig Freiberg (after divorce)
Divorce from Emmy Fraatz completed and Koch married Hedwig Freiberg in 1893.
Cholera control rules approved (Dresden) influenced by Koch
Koch's rules for control of cholera epidemics were approved by the Great Powers in Dresden in 1893 and influenced global epidemic control and water supply protection.
Announced 'new' tuberculin; traveled to South Africa to study rinderpest
Announced a new preparation of tuberculin in 1896 and traveled to South Africa to study rinderpest, using bile injections to limit outbreaks.
Elected Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS)
Elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in 1897 in recognition of scientific contributions.
Published observations on malaria, plague, surra and blackwater fever
After work in India and Africa, published extensive observations on malaria, blackwater fever, surra and plague (1898).
Expedition to German New Guinea; studied acquired immunity to malaria
Arrived in German New Guinea (Dec 26, 1900) and observed subclinical malaria among indigenous Papuan people indicating acquired immunity patterns.
Controversial statement on difference between human and bovine TB (International Congress, London)
At the 1901 International Medical Congress on Tuberculosis in London, he asserted human and bovine tuberculosis bacilli are different — sparked controversy.
Sent to German East Africa to study East Coast fever
In December 1904 Koch traveled to German East Africa to study East Coast fever of cattle; made key observations on Babesia, Trypanosoma and tickborne spirochaetosis.
Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Awarded the Nobel Prize for his investigations and discoveries related to tuberculosis in 1905.
Returned to Central Africa; work on trypanosomiasis and discovery of atoxyl efficacy
In 1906 returned to Central Africa to work on human trypanosomiasis and reported that the drug atoxyl was effective against sleeping sickness.
Awarded Order Pour le Mérite
Received the prestigious Order Pour le Mérite for research (1906).
Received the Robert Koch Medal (established 1908)
In 1908 the Robert Koch Medal was established to honour outstanding physicians; Koch was associated with the award and honoured in this context.
Institute renamed 'Robert Koch Institute' posthumously
After his death the Royal Prussian Institute for Infectious Diseases was later renamed in his honour as the Robert Koch Institute.
Suffered heart attack
Suffered a heart attack on 9 April 1910 and never fully recovered.
Death in Baden‑Baden
Died 27 May 1910 in Baden-Baden, three days after delivering a lecture on tuberculosis at the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Feature film about Koch's life released (posthumous cultural milestone)
A 1939 German-produced motion picture depicted Koch's life, featuring Emil Jannings as Koch (mentioned in sources).
World Tuberculosis Day established (commemorative milestone)
WHO observed 24 March each year as World Tuberculosis Day starting in 1982 to commemorate Koch's 1882 TB announcement.
Google Doodle celebrates Koch's birthday
On 10 December 2017 Google featured a Doodle in celebration of Robert Koch's birthday.
Key Achievement Ages
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