Basilius Besler (1561-1629) was a respected Nuremberg apothecary and botanist; best known for his monumental botanical study Hortus Eystettenis; 1613.

He was curator of the garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen; prince bishop of Eichst鋞t in Bavaria. The bishop was an enthusiastic botanist who derived great pleasure from his garden; which rivaled Hortus Botanicus Leiden among early European botanical gardens outside Italy. Pictures From History