German naturalist and pharmacist Heinrich Bürger made significant collections in Japan, where he served as assistant to P.F von Siebold.

Bürger was born in Hamlen on the Weser, Hanover, but there is confusion over whether this was in 1804 or 1806. After studies in mathematics at Göttingen University (1821-1822) he embarked for the Dutch East Indies, where he qualified as a pharmacist in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1825. He then became assistant to Philip von Siebold, who was practising medicine and investigating Japanese natural history at Dejima (Nagasaki). Together they gathered large amounts of material, both botanical and zoological. When Siebold left Dejima in 1928, Bürger remained, continuing their work, and sent significant collections to Leiden.

Bürger's collections were used in the preparation of Temminck and Schlegel's Fauna Japonica, while his plants were distributed among important European herbaria. He did not describe any new plants himself, but many were named in his honour.

In 1833 Bürger travelled to Sumatra, where he participated in an expedition to the Padang highlands and organised the building of a road from Padang through the Anai Valley. During this period he married a Dutchwoman in Padang, who remained in Batavia while he returned to Dejima in 1834. They were reunited the following year, however, and spent 1840-1841 in Europe.

Bürger's later years were spent in Java, where he became a businessman trading oil, rice and sugar. He died in Indramaju, Java.

Sources:
M.J. van Steenis Kruseman, 1962, "Heinrich Bürger (?1806 - 1858), explorer in Japan and Sumatra", Blumea, 11(2): 495-505
M.J. van Steenis Kruseman, "Cyclopedia of Collectors", Flora Malesiana, online edn:
www.nationaalherbarium.nl/fmcollectors/B/BurgerH.htm, accessed 22 November 2012.