Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk (5 June 1804 – 11 March 1865) was a Holy Roman Empire-born explorer for Great Britain who carried out geographical, ethnological and botanical studies in South America and the West Indies, and also fulfilled diplomatic missions for the United Kingdom in the Dominican Republic and Thailand.

Although he did not possess the special knowledge that is required for such work,[1] he surveyed the island at his own expense and sent to the Royal Geographical Society (London) a report which created such an impression that, in 1835, he was entrusted by that body with conducting an expedition of exploration of British Guiana.

He fulfilled his mission (1835–1839) with great success, incidentally discovering the giant Victoria Regia water lily in 1837 and many new species of orchids, one genus of which, Schomburgkia, was named for him.

On the brothers' return to London in June 1844, Schomburgk presented a report of his journey to the Geographical Society, for which he was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1845,[1] and continued in other official capacities.

[1] For example, he became the first recorded person in history to climb Hispaniola's (and the entire Caribbean's) highest mountain, Pico Duarte, in 1851, naming it "Monte Tina" and almost measuring its height correctly at 3,140 metres (10,300 ft).

The letter gives a short account of his visit to the semi-independent kingdom of Chiang Mai in 1859–60,[7] and thence by elephant across the mountain range to Moulmein on the Bay of Bengal, returning to Bangkok after a trip of 135 days and approximately 1000 English miles.