Monk

Taking on the name Gregor, Mendel became a monk in 1843 and entered the St. Thomas Monastery in Brno, Moravia. It was a center of intellectual life, where Mendel took special interest in the study of natural an agricultural sciences. Having access to a great library of 30,000 books and top scientific minds as well as food and time, Mendel flourished and was ordained into the priesthood in 1847. He studied agriculture and apple and wine production.

Photo: Gregor Mendel, back row standing second from left

Photo credit: Mendel Museum of Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic