Friedrich Simony

Friedrich Simony (30 November 1813, Hrochowteinitz – 20 July 1896, Sankt Gallen) was an Austrian geographer and Alpine researcher.

Initially trained as a pharmacist, from 1836 he studied natural sciences at the University of Vienna by way of influence from botanist Joseph Franz von Jacquin.

In 1848 he became a curator at the natural history museum in Klagenfurt, and during the following year, served as chief geologist at the Imperial Geological Institute in Vienna.

In this role, he conducted research in the fields of glaciology, climatology, speleology, ecology, hydrology, phytogeography, etc.

In September 1843 he was the first to spend the night at the summit of Hoher Dachstein (2995 m); in January 1847 he was first to achieve a winter ascent of the peak.