Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (??????? ??????????? ??????????) (November 19 (November 8, Old Style), 1711 – April 15 (April 4, Old Style), 1765) was a Russian writer and polymath who made important contributions to literature, education, and science.

His achievements

On his arrival in Russia he rapidly rose to distinction, and was made professor of chemistry in the University of St. Petersburg, where he ultimately became rector. Eager to improve Russian education, Lomonosov was engaged in founding the Moscow State University (later named after him) in 1755. In 1764 Lomonosov was appointed to the position of a secretary of state.

Related Topics:
Russia - Chemistry - University of St. Petersburg - Rector - Moscow State University - 1755 - 1764

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As a scientist Lomonosov rejected the phlogiston theory of matter commonly accepted at the time, and anticipated the kinetic theory of gases. He regarded heat as a form of motion, suggested the wave theory of light, and stated the idea of conservation of matter. Believing that nature is subject to regular and continuous evolution, he demonstrated the organic origin of soil, peat, coal, petroleum, and amber.

Related Topics:
Phlogiston - Kinetic theory of gases - Heat - Wave theory - Light - Conservation of matter - Evolution - Organic - Soil - Peat - Coal - Petroleum - Amber

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Lomonosov was the first person to record the freezing of mercury, and to hypothesize the existence of an atmosphere on Venus based on his observation of the transit of Venus of 1761 in a small observatory near his house in Petersburg. In 1745 he published a catalogue of over 3,000 minerals, and in 1760 he explained the formation of icebergs. He also set up a glass factory that produced the first stained glass mosaics outside of Italy.

Related Topics:
Freezing - Mercury - Atmosphere - Venus - Transit of Venus - 1761 - Petersburg - 1745 - Mineral - Iceberg - Glass - Mosaics - Italy

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In 1755 he wrote a grammar that reformed the Russian literary language by combining Old Church Slavonic with the vulgar tongue. To further his literary theories, he wrote more than 20 solemn ceremonial odes, notably the Evening Meditation on the God's Grandeur. To his later poems he applied an idiosyncratic theory that words containing sounds E, I, YU should be used when depicting tender subjects, and those with sounds O, U, Y - to describe things that may cause fear ("like anger, envy, pain, and sorrow"). Lomonosov published his own history of Russia in 1760. Most of his accomplishments, however, were unknown outside Russia until long after his death. He died in St. Petersburg in 1765.

Related Topics:
1755 - Grammar - Russian literary language - Old Church Slavonic - Ode - History - 1760

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