Hendrik Engel was born February 2nd, 1898 at Koog-aan-de-Zaan (Netherlands) and received his school education at the H.B.S. of Zaandam where Dr. K. Kuiper was his teacher of Natural History. After his final examination he passed additional examinations in Latin and Greek. In 1917 he was called up for military service and served as an ensign till armistice day, November 11th, 1918.