Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Lomonosov met Elizabeth Christine Zilch while studying in Germany and they got married in 1740.

He died of influenza on 15 April 1765, at his residence in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of 53.

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was born on 19 November 1711, at Denisovka (later renamed as Lomonosovo) in Russia, to Vasily Dorofeyevich Lomonosov and Elena Ivanovna Sivkova. He belonged a family of coast- dwelling peasants called ‘pomory’.

At the age of ten, he began assisting his father in his cod-fishing and cargo business. During this period he also pursued education in Russian grammar.

During the 1720’s he travelled to several ports across the White Sea and northern Arctic sea. He got the opportunity to understand maritime meteorology, pearl-diving, astronomy and navigation along with being accustomed with the culture of people like the Nenets, Finns and Laplanders.

He was issued a passport in 1730, and in order to continue his education, he travelled to Moscow in the same year. After some time he was inducted into the Slavic Greek Latin Academy.

He was a brilliant student and post three years of study he was sent to Kiev to spent a year at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. However, he was displeased with the education he received in Kiev and returned to Moscow in a short while. Mikhail Lomonosov completed his scheduled twelve year course within five years and was the topper in his class.

Mikhail Lomonosov came back to Russia in 1741 and commenced research work under Professor Amman at the St. Petersburg Academy of Science. A short while later he was made adjutant professor of physics at the Academy department.

In 1745, he was inducted into the chemistry of St. Petersburg Academy of Science as full time professor. The same year he published a catalogue of more than 3000 minerals.

In 1748, he published his work ‘Short Guide to Rhetoric’. A few years later, in 1750, as per orders of Russian Empress, Elizaveta, he wrote a five act tragedy under the title ‘Tamira and Selim’ for the upcoming national theatre. The play was well appreciated.

In 1751, St. Petersburg Academy published the debut collection of poems of Mikhail Lomonosov.

In 1752, he released his poem titled ‘On the Utility of Glass’ along with composing his second play ‘Demofont’.

Mikhail Lomonosov was an expert in diverse fields, such as, geology, physics, literature, geography and chemistry. He gave much importance to the development of education system in Russia and founded the first Russian chemical laboratory at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences along with the establishment of the Moscow University. As a result of his studies, he explained the phenomenon of icebergs, challenged certain previous scientific theories like the phlogiston theory as well published theories like the law of mass conservation.