Robert Koch was born on December 11, 1843 in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, in
the family Herman and Matilda Henrietta Koch. Was the third of thirteen children. Father - mining engineer, he worked in the local mines. The mother, the daughter of an official of Henry Andreas Bevanda, chief inspector of the Kingdom of Hanover. He saw a curious grandson makings of a researcher. In 1848 went to the local primary school. At this time, already knew how to read and write. Well after school, Robert Koch in 1851 entered the gymnasium of Clausthal.