Georg Ludwig Hartig (September 2, 1764 – February 2, 1837) was a German forester.
Hartig was born at Gladenbach, in present-day Hesse. After obtaining a practical knowledge of forestry from his uncle at Harzburg, he studied from 1781 to 1783 at the University of Giessen,[1] which had commenced a course of instruction in forestry just a few years earlier, in 1778.
In 1786, Hartwig was appointed as Manager of Forests for the Prince of Solms-Braunfels at Hungen, in the Wetterau, Hesse. While in this position, he founded a school for the teaching of forestry,[1] one of the first dedicated schools of forestry in Europe.
After a decade in Hungen, in 1797, he received an appointment as Inspector of Forests to the Prince of Orange-Nassau and moved to Dillenburg, continuing his school of forestry there. Attendance increased considerably in Dillenburg. On the dissolution of the principality by Napoleon I of France in 1805 he lost his position.[1]
In 1806, Hartig went to Stuttgart as Chief Inspector of Forests. Five years later, in 1811, he was called to Berlin in a similar capacity. There he reestablished his school once again, succeeding in connecting it with the University of Berlin.[1]
Hartwig received an appointment as Honorary Professor at the University of Berlin in 1830. He died at Berlin on 2 February 1837.
His son Theodor Hartig (1805–1880) and grandson Robert Hartig (1839–1901) also were distinguished for their contributions to the study of forestry.[1]