Ferdinand Joseph Schmidt

He was born in Sopron (Hungary) and worked briefly in Vienna and later in Laibach (present day Ljubljana, Slovenia).

The business grew, helped by the Congress of Laibach in 1821, and he soon acquired real estate and began to study the flora and fauna of Carniola.

He also served as a trustee of the Laibach Sparkasse Association and was a member of the Ukrainian Provincial and Trade Commission.

The Imperial Chamber of Commerce in Vienna, by decree of October 20, 1839, recognized him for his services to trade in Ljubljana.

In 1867 he was made an honorary citizen of the city of Ljubljana and in 1869 he received the Golden Cross of Merit with Crown.