August Gottlieb Richter

August Gottlieb Richter was born 13 April 1742 in Zörbig, Saxony. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1764. After travelling across Europe, he returned to Göttingen to teach, becoming a full professor in 1771. He is best known for describing a type of hernia, which is now known as Richter’s Hernia, in 1785. He wrote a number of medical books, dedicating his 1794 work ‘Medical and Surgical Observations’ to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He died in Göttingen on 23 July 1812.