Ludwig Ritter von Köchel (German: [ˈkœçəl];[Note 1] born Ludwig Alois Friedrich Köchel; 14 January 1800 – 3 June 1877) was an Austrian musicologist, writer, composer, botanist, and publisher.

Ludwig Alois Friedrich Köchel was born in the town of Stein, Lower Austria.

Köchel was rewarded with a knighthood[Note 2] and a generous financial settlement, permitting him to spend the rest of his life as a private scholar.

In addition to botany, he was interested in geology and mineralogy, but also loved music, and was a member of the Mozarteum Salzburg.

In 1862 he published the Köchel catalogue, a chronological and thematic register of the works of Mozart.