Botanist and entomologist born in Teplitz (now Teplice-Šanov, Czech Republic), son of physician and botanist Joseph Gottfried Mikan. Mikan qualified as a doctor of medicine at the University of Prague, but practised for only a short time before concentrating on botany and entomology. He spent more than 30 years working at the University of Prague, where he was appointed Professor of Natural History. During these years (1800-1831), he made many botanical discoveries in the surrounding region of Bohemia, and ventured further afield in 1817 as part of the Austrian Expedition to Brazil. This scientific expedition followed the Austrian Archduchess Leopoldine on her way to wed Dom Pedro, the future Emperor of Brazil, and comprised of a party including Mikan's travelling partner, botanist J.B.E. Pohl (1782-1834) and Austrian botanist H.W. Schott (1794-1865). His explorations in Brazil from 1817 to 1818, led to his illustrated work Dellecctus Florae et Faunae Brasiliensis describing botanical and zoological species. The trip took its toll on his health, however, forcing him to retire from most of his duties in 1826. Mikan was also a part-time poet and the composer Franz Schubert set one of his poems to music in the song Die Befreier Europas in Paris.