Julius Oswald Hesse, born in 1835 in Obereula, Saxony, pursued his studies in chemistry at the Leipzig University.

After obtaining his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1860, he initially chose a career in the chemical industry rather than academia.

However, Hesse's interest soon shifted towards the study of chemical compounds found in plants, with a particular focus on lichens.

His extensive research in this field was summarized in his work Flechtenstoffe in Biochemisches Handlexicon, published in 1912.

In 1888, Hesse was elected a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.