![Conrad Gessner Conrad Gessner](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/conrad-gessner-1.jpg)
Born to a poor fur dealer, Conrad Gessner was sent to study under an uncle who dealt in medicinal herbs. He then studied theology but later grew up to become a Renaissance polymath, excelling in subjects such as natural history and medicine. His Bibliotheca universalis remains a major work in bibliography.