Karel Feistmantel

Karel Feistmantel (14 February 1819 – 29 September 1885) was a Czech geologist and paleontologist who explored the coal deposits of central of western Bohemia.

Feistmantel was born in Prague, the son of a popular theatre actor Franz X. František.

He studied at the local grammar schools before joining Prague polytechnic in 1834 where he was influenced by the mineralogist Franz Xaver Zippe.

He then worked for the industrialist and nobleman Karel Fürstenberg at Křivoklát estate working on the management of mines and smelting in Stará Huť, Nová Huť, Nový Jáchymov, Roztoky and Břasy.

After his retirement he took a greater interest in paleontology and discovered many fossil including several that have been named after him.