GENEALOGY OF THE GERICKE FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA
	OTTO VON GUERICKE.

When Otto Gericke was born in Magdeburg in 1602 the name Gericke was already known for more than 300 years. He became famous as a scholar, scientist, engineer and diplomat. He also served as mayor of Magdeburg. Probably his greatest achievement was his invention of the air pump which enabled him to demonstrate the existence and properties of a vacuum.

His application for a peerage was approved by Emporer Leopold I in 1666 and included permission to change his name to von Guericke. He died in Hamburg in 1686. The male line of the family ended with the death of Friedrich Wilhelm von Guericke in 1777.