Mikhail Lomonosov

Russia’s first world-famed specialist in natural science, a poet who laid down the foundations of Russian literary language and an advocate of education, Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov (1711-1765) will forever remain in the history of Russian science as «the first and the greatest». Aspiring to get an education, Lomonosov left his native village of Kholmogory in Northern Russia in 1730 and travelled all the way to Moscow on foot.

The son of a poor fisherman, he had to conceal his origin in order to be admitted to the Slavonic-Greek-Latin Academy of Moscow, where he started his education at the age of 19. Recognized by his instructors as an excellent student, he completed his education in St. Petersburg and in Germany. He became the first Russian professor of chemistry at St. Petersburg Academy of Science in 1745. His major scientific accomplishment was in the field of physical chemistry, with other notable discoveries in astronomy, geophysics, geology, metallurgy and mineralogy. Mikhail Lomonosov was the one who created a system of higher education in Russia. The foundation of a university in Moscow became possible only due to the efforts of M. Lomonosov, the outstanding Russian scholar and scientist, a person of encyclopedic knowledge. In 1940 on the occasion of its 185th Anniversary, Moscow State University was named after him.

Interested in furthering Russian education, Lomonosov wrote a grammar that reformed the Russian literary language by combining Old Church Slavonic with the vulgar tongue. He published the first history of Russia in 1760 and invented a new system of meter in his poetry, which consisted mostly of eloquent odes. He also revived the art of Russian mosaic and built a mosaic and coloured-glass factory.

Famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin was quite right when he wrote about the giant of the 18th century world science: «Combining the great will-power and the remarkable strength of perception, Lomonosov embraced all the branches of learning. A thirst for a deeper appreciation of things proved an overwhelming passion with that impassioned spirit. A historian, mechanic, chemist, physicist, astronomer, mining specialist, mineralogist, geographer, historian, philologist, artist and poet, he had experienced it all and perceived it all...».

Even so, the vast scope of Lomonosov’s interests and the profundity of his knowledge appear amazing for that age. He carried out research and scientific and technical projects that were not simply enormous — they were immeasurable. Lomonosov invented the first gas barometer, developed the methods of exact weighting, brought up the kinetic theory of warmth, and developed the method of processing the colour glasses, which he used for his great mosaics. Lomonosov proved the organic origin of oils, stone coal and amber.

Lomonosov was the first Russian natural scientist of world importance. He had encyclopedic knowledge, interests and abilities, and he also is known as a poet, artist, astronomer and Russian historian, who made important contributions to both literature and science. Most of his accomplishments, however, were unknown outside Russia until long after his death in St. Petersburg on April 15, 1765.

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