The Prussian scholar, education reformer, and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835).
The marble memorial was created in 1882 by German sculptor Paul Otto in neo-baroque style, seated with a book in his hand, is situated in front of the main building of Humboldt University.
Wilhelm von Humboldt was the driving force of establishing the university, which was officially decreed by King Frederick William III of Prussia in 1809. It officially opened its doors in 1810.
The institution was originally called the University of Berlin. In 1828, it was renamed the Friedrich Wilhelm University to honour the founding king.
Finally, in 1949, it was given its current name, Humboldt University of Berlin, to honour the legacy of both Wilhelm and his world-famous naturalist brother, Alexander von Humboldt.
The Humboldt University of Berlin has hosted an extraordinary number of notable alumni, including 57 Nobel Prize laureates.
The university has a principle that professors must actively conduct research alongside teaching, many famous figures served as both students and faculty members over their lifetimes.
Many professors taught at this university including Albert Einstein, who served as a physics professor from 1914 to 1933.
Einstein was given a special position that freed him from heavy teaching duties so he could focus entirely on research.