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Albert C. Koch (1804–1867) was a German immigrant naturalist and showman who owned the Saint Louis Museum (1836–1840s), displaying natural history collections and funding fossil excavations. He's known for assembling composite skeletons like 'Hydrarchos sillimani,' which he presented as a biblical sea serpent, drawing scientific criticism. Koch acquired and displayed William Clark's natural/cultural artifacts and was compared to P.T. Barnum for blending science and spectacle.
Quick Facts
Born
1804 · Germany
Died
1867
Nationality
German