Peter Jörgensen

Peter Jörgensen ("Pedro Jorgensen") (3 August 1870 in Sønderby, Funen – 15 April 1937 in Villarrica, Paraguay) was a Danish early 20th century entomologist, active particularly in Argentina and Paraguay.

Life Peter Jörgensen was educated as a teacher of English and German in Copenhagen in 1889. In 1892, he contracted tuberculosis — a condition he suffered from throughout the remainder of his life. In 1906, he joined his friend Anders Christian Jensen-Haarup on a trip to the Mendoza Province in western Argentina in the hope that the arid Andean climate would be beneficial to his health. The two naturalists made extensive insect collections, which were either sold (e.g. to the German entomologist Heinrich Friese ) to cover their travel expenses or were sent to specialists for identification. They also published short accounts (in Danish) of their adventures in Argentina.

Jörgensen moved on to Paraguay, where he settled near Villarrica. He committed his life to a small farm and further entomological research. He also became a plant collector for several American museums. He was found murdered at his farm in April 1937.