Wilhelm Peters

Wilhelm Carl Hartwig Peters (1815–1883) was a German explorer, zoologist, herpetologist, and university teacher. Born in Koldenbüttel, he held citizenship in the Duchy of Schleswig and the Kingdom of Prussia. He studied at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the University of Copenhagen. His professional career included positions at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, and the Berlin Zoological Garden. He also worked in Mozambique.

Peters was a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. His work in zoology and natural science is documented in sources such as the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie and the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. He died in Berlin.