Carl Friedrich Kotschy (Polish: Karol Fryderyk Kotschy, Karol Koczy, 26 January 1789 – 9 February 1856) was an Austrian Protestant theologian and botanist born in Teschen (today Cieszyn, Poland). He was the father of botanist Theodor Kotschy (1813-1866). From 1807 to 1810 he studied theology and botany at the University of Leipzig, and afterwards travelled through France and Switzerland. In Switzerland he met with renowned educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827). He was 1848/49 also Member of the Frankfurt Parliament. His son was Theodor Kotschy.