He organized the first chemistry laboratory in Russia and began training students there. He encouraged the development of astronomy in Russia and was instrumental in organizing several important experiments. He promoted geologic and geographic research. He revived mosaic art in Russia and opened a colored-glass factory. Through his efforts the first Russian university, Moscow University (now named after Lomonosov), was established. But ultimately Lomonosov left his most significant mark on Russian culture through his poetry. He is remembered in Russia as a figure standing at the beginning of the modern literary tradition, the creator of modern Russian poetry and the reformer of the Russian literary language and versification.
The birthdate of Mikhail (or "Mikhailo" in the traditional form) Vasil'evich Lomonosov is not precisely known, but in the beginning of this century the Russian Academy of Sciences decreed to consider it 8 November 1711. He was born in Mishanovka, a small northern village on the island of Kurostrov in the delta of the Dvina River near Archangel. This part of Russia was populated by former citizens of the Novgorod region, which had known neither the Tatar yoke nor serfdom. Officially known as "state peasants" (having economic obligations not to an individual landowner but to the state), they could not depend for their living on agriculture, which was unprofitable in the far north, but had to earn their livelihood by such trades as shipbuilding, fishing, and sailing.
This is a free page. This page contains 198 words. This
biography contains 6,339 words (approx. 21 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Biography with our Mikhail Vasil'evich Lomonosov Access Pass.
