Richard von Volkmann
Richard von Volkmann (17 August 1830 – 28 November 1889) was a prominent German surgeon and author of poetry and fiction. Some of his works were illustrated by his son, Hans, a well known artist.
Also recorded as Richard Leander
Richard von Volkmann

Oliver Kloss · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1830. · Leipzig.
- Died
- 1889. · Jena.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Saxony.
- Occupation
- writer, university teacher, surgeon, physician, poet and narrator.
- Education
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, University of Giessen and Gymnasium St. Augustin.
- Honours
- Commander of the Order of Vasa, Order of the Red Eagle 3rd Class and Commander's Cross of the Order of the Crown of Prussia.
- Languages
- German.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Richard von Volkmann (17 August 1830 – 28 November 1889) was a prominent German surgeon and author of poetry and fiction. Some of his works were illustrated by his son, Hans, a well known artist.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Richard von Volkmann. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q64707 · wikipedia · Richard von Volkmann
In this article
Biography
Biography
Richard von Volkmann studied at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and University of Giessen. The recorded working language is German. Employment is recorded with Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. Distinctions recorded are Commander of the Order of Vasa, Order of the Red Eagle 3rd Class and Commander's Cross of the Order of the Crown of Prussia.
He was born in Leipzig on 17 August 1830, the son of physiologist A.W. Volkmann. Richard entered medical school in Berlin and graduated in 1854. In 1867 he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Director of the Surgical Clinic at Halle where he remained until retirement. He was one of the most prominent surgeons of his day. He died in Jena.
Achievements
Achievements
Performed the first excision of carcinoma of the rectum in 1878. Described Volkmann's Ischaemic Contracture in 1881. Devised a splint and a spoon which bear his name. His treatment of articular tuberculosis heralded attempts at preventive surgery. In 1894 he described three patients with scrotal cancer who worked with paraffin and tar. He was an early supporter of Joseph Lister, and helped the introduction of antiseptic surgery throughout Germany. He invented the surgical retractor, now known as the Volkmann retractor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1830
Richard von Volkmann born at Leipzig.
1889
Richard von Volkmann died at Jena.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Leipzig.
Birth place
Jena.
Death place
Writings
He edited (1870–89) Beiträge zur Chirurgie, and contributed to Franz von Pitha and Theodor Billroth's Handbuch der Chirurgie a section on diseases of the locomotory organs (1865–72). He wrote Bemerkungen über einige vom Krebs zu trennende Geschwülste (1858). Under the pseudonym Richard Leander, he wrote: Träumereien an französischen Kaminen (Reveries at French hearths, 1871; 24th ed. 1894), a work for young people Aus der Burschenzeit (From boyhood, 1876) Gedichte (Poems, 3d ed. 1885) Kleine Geschichten (Little stories, 2d ed. 1888) Alte und neue Troubadourlieder (Old and new troubador songs, 2d ed. 1890)
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Richard Von Volkmann 1830–1889, Who’s Who in Orthopedics
Scholarly · Crossref registry
- Richard von Volkmann 1930-1889, Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 1986
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1986
- Richard von Volkmann-Leander (1830–1889), Handbuch Märchen, 2023
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2023
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q64707: Richard von Volkmann
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Richard von Volkmann”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Willy, Christian. Richard von Volkmann: Surgeon and Renaissance Man. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 466. 2. 500–506. February 2008. 10.1007/s11999-007-0007-4.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Firkin, B.G. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. Parthenon Publishing. 1987. 1-85070-333-7.
- Krause, Zur Erinnerung an Richard von Volkmann (Berlin, 1890)
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Richard Von Volkmann 1830–1889, Who’s Who in OrthopedicsCrossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Verifiedscholarly publication
Richard von Volkmann-Leander (1830–1889), Handbuch Märchen, 2023Crossref registry
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Studied at
1- Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinOrganisation
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,624 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Richard TelekyAuthor
- Richard V. ReevesAuthor
- Richard von Krafft-EbingAuthor
- Richard von SchaukalAuthor
- Richard VoßAuthor
- Richard WagameseAuthor
- Richard Walther DarréAuthor
- Richard Washburn ChildAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Richard von Volkmann?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.