Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein
Sigmund Zois (Žiga Zois) (Triest, 23. November 1747 - Ljubljana, 10. November 1819) studied natural sciences with Gabriel Gruber and Joseph Maffei in Ljubljana. He worked in mineralogy, geology, botany and zoology. His collection of minerals (abt. 5000 pieces) is kept in a museum in Ljubljana.
In 1795 he mounted two expeditions to explore the land around the Triglav mountain. In 1805 a mineral zoisite was named after him, since Zois correctly judged that the finding of Simon Presern in the Alps in Carinthia represented an unknown mineral.
Sigmund also helped his brother, a botanist Karl Zois, the discoverer of Campanula zoysii.
The main award for science in Slovenia is named after Žiga Zois.