Wiesner family


The Wiesner Family is a Colombian family of German heritage. They emigrated to Colombia in the eighteenth century. The founder of the family was a German mineralogist and engineer born in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany who served as Director of Mines designated by Simon Bolivar. Family members served the country, as Minister of Finance, a Physician, lawyers, engineers, and businessman.

History

In 1787, King Charles III of Spain asked the Elector of Saxony for skilled mineralogists to teach their profession and work in the mines of the New Kingdom of Granada, later Colombia. Eight young men were sent, including the founder of this family. Jacob Benjamin Wiesner Heckerin was a German physicist, chemist, mathematic, mineralogist and Engineer born in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany. He graduated from University Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. Wiesner served as Director of Mines for Bolivar in Zipaquirá, Colombia. Later, his descendants established themselves in Zipaquirá.

Notables

Toponymy