Crelle’s genius was as a mathematical talent-spotter and disseminator of others’ work. Abel was a particular protégé, who with Steiner helped inspire the publication of Crelle’s important journal. Others he took up personally were Eisenstein and Plücker, while the likes of Möbius, Lobachevsky, Grassmann, Weierstrass and Hesse all had important early exposure through his efforts. Jacobi was also very close. Humboldt was a strong supporter, and invited him to breakfast when Gauss wanted to meet Babbage. Ampère, Legendre and Talbot were all correspondents. Poncelet called him “honourable and knowledgeable.”