Johann Hildebrandt was an explorer and natural history collector who made several expeditions to Africa. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, he began his working life as a machine builder, but after losing an eye in an accident turned to gardening. He went on to take up a position at the Berlin Botanical Garden in 1869. At the same time he studied botany, zoology, medicine and surveying.

With support from various backers, Hildebrandt undertook his first expedition in 1872-1874, to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Eritrea and Somalia, where he collected a large number of botanical and zoological specimens. Following on from this he spent 1873-1874 in Zanzibar. In between his travels Hildebrandt lectured widely and wrote up reports on his findings, as well as organising his collections for sale.

Next, Hildebrandt travelled to the Comoro Islands and Kenya in 1875-1877, where he suffered with tropical fevers. He returned to Berlin for a while to recuperate, but within two years had decided to explore Madagascar. There, he found a new palm which he named Bismarckia nobilis Hildebr. & H.Wendl. in honour of the German statesman. In 1880 he fell ill again, but forged ahead with his explorations, journeying to the interior of the country when well enough. Here he was caught in heavy rain in the Ankaratra mountain forests and after his return to Antananarivo, he died on 29 May 1881.

Sources:
J.H. Barnhart, 1965, Biographical Notes Upon Botanists, 2: 174
H.J. Beentje, 1998, "J.M. Hildebrandt (1847-1881): Notes on His Travels and Plant Collections", Kew Bulletin, 53(4): 835-856
M. Gürke, 1892, Botanische Jahrbücher, 14: 288-289
G. Sayre, 1975, "Cryptogamae Exsiccatae: an annotated bibliography of exsiccatae of algae, lichens, hepaticae, and musci. V. Unpublished Exsiccatae: I. Collectors", Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, 19(3): 338
B. Verdcourt, 1984, The Conchologists' Newsletter, 88: 141-145.