It was our very first university. He created the first university. It is better to say that he himself was our first university.

Yesterday marked the 306th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Lomonosov (1711–1765). On the Presidential Library portal you can familiarize yourself with collection , dedicated to the life and works of a genius nugget from the Pomeranian hinterland.

The collection is rich in its diversity: there are scientific works, studies, essays, and archival materials telling about the scientist’s activities, and his epistolary heritage. In a number of ancient books, Lomonosov appears not only as a chemist, but also as a writer and reformer of the Russian language.

Researchers note that the place of birth itself - the Arkhangelsk region, the village of Kholmogory - played a significant role in the fate of Lomonosov. B. Menshutkin in the book“Mikhailo Vasilievich Lomonosov. Biography" (1911) writes: “The Pomors are a special, distinctive class of the population, and although they are usually considered peasants, in terms of ingenuity, energy, enterprise, and general development they differ sharply from peasants engaged only in agriculture.” The author further reports that Lomonosov, until the age of 19, went fishing in the White and Arctic Seas, saw a lot and learned a lot from Pomeranian fishermen, who knew how not only to catch animals and fish, but also to sell them at a profit. “Subsequently, Lomonosov often used in his scientific works the impressions, observations and conclusions gleaned in adolescence.”

A detailed biography of the great scientist is presented in several books of the Presidential Library. From them we can learn that only by the age of 20 he mastered reading and writing. At first, his reference books were only spiritual church works. Later he became acquainted with “Arithmetic” by L.F. Magnitsky and"Grammar" M.G. Smotritsky (1648), available on the Presidential Library portal.

In 1731, Mikhail Lomonosov was admitted to the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, which was also called the “Spassky School”. The extent of the self-taught Pomeranian's talent was revealed in the very first year, when he was twice transferred to a higher level of education. Already in 1735, at the request of the Synod, Lomonosov, among the best students, was sent to the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and in 1736 he was sent to Germany to study metallurgy, chemistry, as well as those sciences that were not taught in Russia. European professors closely followed his successes, noting his lively mind, high learning ability and insatiable thirst for acquiring knowledge.

In an electronic copy of the book by J. Grot"Essay on Lomonosov's academic activities" Lomonosov’s everyday troubles are also described: “From the very moment he arrived from abroad, he was in extremely cramped circumstances.<…> Chis meager academic salary was delayed for several months, and he, as he himself said, not only could not buy instruments, but was in great need of food.” But by that time Mikhail Vasilyevich had already started a family, he had a daughter.

And yet, the scientist continued the work of academic construction in Russia, and then began to implement his own ideas about what the university created in Moscow should be like.

In the electronic copy of the anniversary edition "Celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of M.V. Lomonosov Imperial Moscow University "Mikhail Speransky’s statement is given, fully reflecting Lomonosov’s role in the creation of the university:

« From the very first day of its existence, the University began to live by the tradition that Lomonosov worked all his life to create: the University became not only a place of science, but a science that widely opened its doors to society.<…>The torch of Russian science, lit in 1755 by the brilliant Lomonosov, did not go out, despite any storms that swept over Russian science and life, and it will not go out until we not only remember the great creator of Russian science, but also remember his behests and the instructive history of Moscow University - otherwise - the history of our scientific and popular self-awareness."

Moscow University was created at a time when one could still dream of freedom of science as something truly feasible: Lomonosov worked to grant Moscow University “the liberties of Leiden and other foreign universities.” And indeed, relative freedom of teaching, independence in the internal life of the educational institution, recognition of it as a scientific center characterize the early years of the life of Moscow University...

Literature occupied a special place in Lomonosov’s life. This topic from an unusual angle in the work"Lightings of the Russian word" explores N. Priluko-Prilutsky: “Not being a poet, Lomonosov took up poetry because this form of speech was more attractive to those whose beliefs he had to act on.”

So, let’s say, at one time he presented an ode to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, expecting her to solve a number of problems regarding the organization of science in Russia, which lagged behind Europe in this regard. A completely pragmatic calculation was justified, as is clear from the book by A. Kiesewetter"Lomonosov" (1914) : “Shuvalov was a noble nobleman and could always see the empress. It was he who explained to the empress how important and necessary everything that Lomonosov wrote about the organization of the first university in Moscow was. When the university was opened, Lomonosov worked very hard to ensure that both noble and ordinary people, nobles, merchants, and peasants - everyone who wanted - were freely admitted there without distinction.

Today Moscow State University is named after Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov. Recently, an electronic reading room of the Presidential Library has been created at the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University. Anyone can now use the resources of the library’s fund, including its “Lomonosov” collection.

Encyclopedist, poet, artist, philologist, mineralogist, mosaicist, founder of Russia's first chemical research laboratory, reformer of the Russian language, author of Russian rhetoric, compiler of " Russian grammar "Lomonosov never stopped working for the glory of science. As A.S. wrote Pushkin in his “Journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg”: “Lomonosov... was a great man. He created the first university. It is better to say that it itself was our first university.”

So said Mikhail Lomonosov

— Everything that exists in nature is mathematically precise and definite; although we sometimes doubt this accuracy, our ignorance does not detract from it in the least: even if the whole world doubted that twice two is four, still twice two will give four to all those who doubt it.

- Dare to glorify your fatherland with courage!

- The clergy should not become attached to teachings that demonstrate physical truth for benefit and enlightenment, and especially not to criticize science in sermons.

“If you do something good with difficulty, the labor will pass, but the good will remain, and if you do something bad with pleasure, the pleasure will pass, but the bad will remain.”

- He who cannot do little, cannot do more.

- A lazy person in dishonest peace is similar to motionless swamp water, which produces nothing except stench and despicable vermin.

- A small man is small on the mountain; the giant is great even in the pit.

— Sciences nourish young men,

Joy is served to the elders,

In a happy life they decorate,

In case of an accident, take care...

“I don’t want to be a fool not just at the table of noble gentlemen or any earthly rulers, but below the Lord God himself, who gave me meaning, until he takes it away.”

“There is no such ignoramus who could not ask more questions than the most knowledgeable person can answer.”

“Those who write darkly either unwittingly betray their ignorance or deliberately hide it poorly. They write vaguely about what they vaguely imagine.

Klimov Dmitry

A message about the various hobbies of M.V. Lomonosov and his contribution to Russian science.

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“Lomonosov... was our first university.” A.S. Pushkin The work was completed by 7th grade student Klimov Dmitry Teacher - I.A. Starkova

“Lomonosov was a great man. Between Peter I and Catherine II, he alone is an original supporter of enlightenment. He created the first university; it, better to say, was the first university itself” A.S. Pushkin Years of life: November 8, 1711-April 4, 1765

When talking about M.V. Lomonosov, one often has to say the word “first”. It is difficult for a modern scientist to imagine how it is possible to simultaneously work in the fields of chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, geography, metallurgy, history and philology. It’s impossible to escape the feeling of admiration: how one person was enough to do everything!

Lomonosov's contribution to such natural sciences as physics, chemistry, geography, astronomy, mineralogy, soil science, geology, cartography, geodesy, and meteorology is very great. The scientific and cultural heritage of Lomonosov is diverse and extensive. Throughout his life, Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was the initiator of a wide variety of scientific, technical and cultural events aimed at the development of Russia and of paramount national importance.

Lomonosov was convinced that only the spread of science and education could contribute to the prosperity of Russia. The establishment of a university in Moscow in 1755 became possible thanks to the activities of the outstanding encyclopedist scientist, the first Russian academician Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711–1765), whose name the university bears.

Moscow University of the 18th century had only three faculties: philosophy, medicine, and law. All students began their studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, where they received fundamental training in the natural sciences and humanities. Education could be continued by specializing in law, medicine, or the same faculty of philosophy.

Currently, Moscow University is one of the leading centers of national education, science and culture: 39 faculties, 15 research institutes, 4 museums, 6 branches, about 380 departments, a Science Park, a Botanical Garden, a Scientific Library with a fund of 9 million volumes, publishing house, printing house, Cultural center, boarding school.

AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS OF LOMONOSOV GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY In the middle of the 18th century, when many famous scientists considered geography an appendage of one or another science, Lomonosov not only affirmed geography as an independent science, but also considered it as a complex science, covering not only nature, but also economics human activity.

Having headed the Geographical Department of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in 1758, Lomonosov took measures to compile a new geographical atlas of the country and proposed sending expeditions to determine the coordinates of some Russian cities. Lomonosov proposed a number of new instruments and methods for determining the longitude and latitude of a place. Lomonosov studied sea ice and was the first to classify it. He repeatedly emphasized the political and economic importance for Russia of the development of the Northern Sea Route.

In 1757, Lomonosov's monograph was published, which proved the existence of the Southern Continent. Lomonosov gave a description of ores and minerals, spoke about the occurrence of ores, and indicated the possibilities of searching for minerals. Lomonosov puts forward a number of scientific hypotheses about the formation and existence of the northern lights, which for the most part were subsequently confirmed, some only in the twentieth century. Lomonosov's works in the field of geography have earned recognition from scientists of the 18th and 21st centuries.

PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, ASTRONOMY Lomonosov's scientific research in chemistry and physics was based on ideas about the atomic-molecular structure of matter. Lomonosov paid considerable attention to research into atmospheric electricity. Lomonosov was the first to design a reflective (mirror) telescope for an additional flat mirror. One of Lomonosov’s important inventions in the field of optics was the “night vision tube” (1756-58).

Lomonosov was also interested in astronomy and geophysics. Lomonosov was the first to discover the existence of an atmosphere on Venus. Lomonosov carried out long-term studies of gravity. Lomonosov was the first in the history of chemistry to formulate and prove the law of conservation of the weight of a substance during various chemical transformations. He predicted the existence of atoms and described how molecules differ from atoms, and helped found the first chemical laboratory in Russian history. From 1749 to 1751, he conducted more than 2,200 experiments to create technology for the production of colored glass and smalt. By 1753, he achieved amazing results and organized a factory for the production of colored glass.

Lomonosov's theoretical chemistry was entirely based on the achievements of physics. Lomonosov developed instruments for physical studies of chemical objects (for measuring viscosity, for determining the refractive index, a device for determining the hardness of samples). His merit lies in the fact of introducing Russian science, along with metallurgy, mineralogy and geology. In addition to this role, his restless mind did not escape the attraction to the mystery of the formation of metals in the earth's crust.

HISTORY Lomonosov was the greatest historian of his time. (1763). Lomonosov developed a historical concept in which he emphasized the decisive role of the spiritual and moral values ​​of the Russian people in the formation of the Russian state, did not isolate Russian history from European history, and identified similarities and differences in the historical life of different peoples. Lomonosov identified periods of formation, growth, decline and a new, higher rise in Russian history and identified six periods in the history of Russia.

LITERATURE In the field of Russian literature, Lomonosov's significant merit is the improvement of Russian literary, prose and poetry. Lomonosov left examples of eloquence and poetry in various kinds and forms. Lomonosov's work on rhetoric - "Rhetoric" of 1748 - became the first anthology of world literature in Russia, which also included the best works of Russian literature. Lomonosov's manuals were the first publicly available manuals on eloquence.

In the history of Russian literature, Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov became famous as an outstanding poet and philologist. He did a lot for the development of the Russian language, created the first Russian grammar, compiled the first textbook of the Russian language. He wrote in a language accessible to a wide range of people. His poetic works are imbued with faith in the power of the human mind, love for his native nature, for his Fatherland. They are quite understandable to us, our distant descendants.

A.S. Pushkin rightly wrote about the titan of Russian and world science of the 18th century: “Combining extraordinary willpower with the extraordinary power of concept, Lomonosov embraced all branches of education. The thirst for science was the strongest passion of this soul, filled with passions. Historian, rhetorician, mechanic, chemist, mineralogist, artist and poet, he experienced everything and penetrated everything...” His activities reflected all the power, beauty and vitality of Russian science, which had reached the forefront of world scientific knowledge, and the successes of the country, which, after the reforms of Peter I, was able to significantly reduce the gap with the leading powers of the world.

Moscow State University rightfully bears the name of the first Russian natural scientist, an outstanding scientist of world significance - Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711-1765), a man of versatile talents, subtle intuition and a prophetic mindset, a poet who laid the foundations of the modern Russian language, artist, historian, champion of national education, development of Russian science and economics.

His ideas were far ahead of the science of his time. Lomonosov developed atomic-molecular ideas about the structure of matter; formulated the principle of conservation of matter and motion; laid the foundations of physical chemistry; explored atmospheric electricity and gravity; put forward the theory of color, created a number of optical instruments; discovered the atmosphere on Venus; described the structure of the Earth and explained the origin of many minerals and minerals; emphasized the importance of exploring the Northern Sea Route and developing Siberia; revived the art of mosaic and the production of smalt. If we consider his contribution to literature and philology, which is no less than his contribution to science, then we can without hesitation agree with Pushkin, who said that Lomonosov himself was “our first university.”

One should love mathematics because it puts the mind in order. He who cannot do little, cannot do more. Reason, with the help of science, penetrates into the secrets of matter and indicates where the truth is. Science and experience are only means, only ways of collecting materials for the mind. Constant work overcomes obstacles. M.V. Lomonosov

Sciences nourish young men, serve joy to the old, decorate them in a happy life, protect them in an unfortunate event; There is joy in difficulties at home And in distant travels there is no hindrance... Lomonosov M.V.

Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption Mikhail Lomonosov dreamed of catching up and overtaking Europe

300 years ago, on November 19, 1711, Mikhail Lomonosov was born - the first Russian academician, the founder of Moscow University, a man of encyclopedic knowledge, who, in the words of Pushkin, “he himself was our first university.”

According to his convictions, Lomonosov was a patriot and an adept of catching up modernization. Europe was his beacon, and the main slogan of his life was the words from his own poem: “The Russian land can give birth to its own Platos and quick-witted Nevtons [Newtons]!”

During the Stalin era, an image of Lomonosov emerged that had little in common with reality. He was represented, firstly, as an oppressed proletarian, secondly, as a fighter against the reactionary and anti-national government, and thirdly, as a brilliant researcher.

Lomonosov was a great man. He created the first university. It is better to say that he himself was our first university A.S. Pushkin

Lomonosov's reputation as a great scientist is exaggerated. Lomonosov is called the discoverer of the fundamental law of conservation of mass, but in fact, it was formulated and experimentally proven by the Frenchman Lavoisier. Lomonosov only mentioned in a private letter to Academician Euler that “how much is taken from one body, so much will be added to another,” which only amounts to a brilliant guess.

A geologist and chemist by profession, Lomonosov made his most significant discovery in the field of astronomy. In May 1761, watching through a telescope the passage of Venus across the disk of the Sun, he noticed that “the solar edge of the expected entry became unclear and somewhat blurred, but before it was very clean and even everywhere,” and “reasoned” that the Earth’s closest neighbor "surrounded by a noble airy atmosphere, such as that which surrounds our globe."

However, this fact, as sources indicate, “went unnoticed,” due to which a number of authors give priority to the discovery of the Venusian atmosphere to the English astronomer William Herschel.

The main historical role of Lomonosov lies elsewhere. He was a major organizer of science and education, a popularizer of knowledge, and a successful lobbyist for research and educational projects.

Mikhail Vasilyevich never thought of fighting the authorities, but on the contrary, he was no stranger to court intrigue, political opportunism and flattery. However, according to most historians, this can hardly be blamed on him: otherwise he would not have done anything.

Spirit of freedom

Lomonosov was born two years after the Poltava victory, which determined the future of Russia as a European power for centuries to come.

According to biographers, a key role in the formation of his extraordinary personality was played by his origin from the Russian North, inhabited by Pomors and black-mown peasants who did not know serfdom.

“In all of Russia at the beginning of the 18th century there was hardly any other region, except the Dvina land, with more favorable historical soil and happier local conditions,” wrote historian Vladimir Lamansky.

Image caption Lomonosov's fellow countrymen went to sea on such ships

The northerners “abundantly had money, developing a commodity economy, trade and crafts,” they knew how to fend for themselves, and there were more literate people among them than among ordinary people in central Russia. In addition, long before Peter I, they were excellent at navigation.

The father of the future academician was, by Kholmogor's standards, not very poor, had a lot of land and a good house, but the main source of income was sea fishing. Mikhail Vasilyevich subsequently wrote that his father “gained contentment through bloody sweat.”

The boy went to sea with his father from the age of 10. Apparently, it was no coincidence that he later uttered the famous words: “Russian power will grow in Siberia,” and among his scientific interests, sea ice, northern lights, and other “Arctic” topics occupied an important place.

Lomonosov inherited excellent physical stature from his ancestors. Once in St. Petersburg, already an academician, he single-handedly overpowered three robbers who attacked him on the street.

Talented nugget

Lomonosov learned from a local sexton and by the age of 14 surpassed his mentor in the ability to write and count.

Image caption 14-year-old Mikhail had calligraphic handwriting

The widowed father married another woman. The stepmother, according to Lomonosov’s recollections, treated him poorly, which was expressed mainly in constant ridicule of his love of books and craving for some other life.

When Mikhail turned 20, his father and stepmother decided to marry him. Starting a family meant burying the dream of science and the big world. The young man fled to Moscow with a merchant train, taking only three books from home: “Arithmetic” by Magnitsky, “Grammar” by Smotritsky and “Psalter” by Polotsky.

In Moscow, he entered the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, a famous educational institution founded under Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich by people from the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, and studied there for five years.

Lomonosov later colorfully spoke about the hardships of student life in a famous letter to his patron Ivan Shuvalov. The “stipend” was three kopecks a day, of which he bought bread for “denezhka” (half a kopeck), kvass for one kopeck, and spent the rest on clothes and books. Comrades, much younger than him in years, “shouted and pointed with their fingers: look, what a fool at the age of 20 came to study Latin!”

At the academy, Lomonosov's intellectual inclinations were determined: mathematics and the humanities seemed too abstract to him, and most of all he liked observations of nature.

Science nourishes the young, and gives joy to the old. In a happy life they decorate, in an accident they protect Mikhail Lomonosov

Soon after Lomonosov graduated from the academy, the government became concerned that foreign geologists did not want to go to distant Siberia, and decided to send twelve young men to Germany to study mining. To be among them, the capable graduate learned German in six months, which he had not previously spoken.

He studied at the University of Marburg for three years, and lived abroad for another two years on free bread. The future critic of “German dominance” at the Russian Academy of Sciences not only received his education in Germany, but also married a German woman, the daughter of his landlord.

In 1741, Lomonosov returned to St. Petersburg and began work as an adjunct in the physical class of the Academy of Sciences.

"Ministry of Science"

Since its creation, the RAS has been and continues to be a unique institution.

Image caption Lomonosov graduated from the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy among the best graduates

In Europe, research was carried out either by university teachers or wealthy amateurs. Academies initially arose as discussion clubs and were public organizations where recognized representatives of the scientific world accepted colleagues based on their combined merits.

The crowning achievement of a scientist's career was the title of professor, not academician, which brought honor but not money.

Peter I created the Academy of Sciences as a state institution. Academicians and adjuncts were in the service, had class ranks and received salaries not for teaching and publishing books, but for research work.

This allowed scientists to search and create without worrying about their daily bread, but it made them completely dependent on the government.

Court Piit

In the first years, Lomonosov worked successfully, but did not stand out among his colleagues in anything special.

However, in 1748, he composed an ode of praise to the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, which aroused the highest approval and brought the author a large cash prize, paid in copper coins, the delivery of which required two carts.

Since then, Lomonosov has become a member of the highest circles. And later he sang of Elizabeth in expressions like: “Goddess, daughter of the deities who founded the sciences and gave you their increase as an inheritance... How merciful are you, how happy is Russia, that golden times reign with you in it!”

In 1749, Elizabeth took 22-year-old Ivan Shuvalov as her favorite. He was a European-educated and liberal-minded nobleman who corresponded with Helvetius and Voltaire and even suggested that the empress introduce a constitution.

Lomonosov became a member of court circles, began reading verses praising Elizabeth on holidays, and although, apparently, he deeply did not respect Elizabeth, Andrei Burovsky, a historian, received a lot from her

Unlike the dreamy Ivan, his cousin Peter was a major administrator and resourceful businessman.

Having become, thanks to Ivan’s relationship with Elizabeth, the de facto ruler of the empire, he left his mark in many areas: in particular, he adopted the world’s first long-barreled howitzer into service with the Russian army, the famous “Shuvalov unicorn”, which served for about 100 years, founded Russia’s first Noble a bank that gave long-term loans to landowners secured by villages and 6% per annum (hence the concept of “mortgaging an estate” often found in Russian classical literature), and for itself received a monopoly on the fishing and seal industries, which brought fabulous profits.

Lomonosov developed a close friendship with Ivan Shuvalov, who patronized the sciences and arts. A short humorous poem, in which the scientist thanked the count for sending pineapples and a box of champagne as a gift, became the first known work of Russian literature in which profanity was used.

Elizabeth herself was a poorly educated woman, who until the end of her life believed that it was possible to travel to England by land. Having visited the chemical laboratory created by Lomonosov, she did not understand his explanations and mercifully waved her hand: “That’s enough, Mikhaila Vasilyevich, I won’t understand anything anyway, make your own laboratory, otherwise it would be better to write doggerel.”

However, the empress positioned herself as “Petrov’s daughter,” a champion of reform and enlightenment.

"Malicious Normanism"

It was not only Lomonosov who composed odes, and this alone probably would not have been enough to gain weight at court.

There is a page in Lomonosov's biography that, in the opinion of many modern researchers, does not do him credit. With his direct participation in Russian science, an ideological discussion arose for the first time, very similar to the Stalinist pogroms of cybernetics and genetics.

His colleague Gottlieb Bayer, based on the Aachen Chronicle of Charlemagne, argued that the word “Rus” originally referred to the Scandinavian tribe, and then spread to all inhabitants of the territory conquered by the descendants of Rurik.

Miller and Bayer did not draw any political conclusions from their research.

Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption Empress Elizabeth did not understand science, but in the dispute over Normanism she strongly supported Lomonosov

History was not previously part of Lomonosov's scientific interests. But he caught the patriotic trend that was fashionable at court: the Germans have settled in the Russian Academy of Sciences, are eating our bread, and are even proving that foreigners gave Russia statehood!

Mikhail Vasilyevich translated Miller’s work from German into Russian, allowing for distortions and manipulations (according to it, it turned out that Miller considered Russians to be barbarians, incapable of independent development), and then wrote “Objections” to his own translation, replete with political labels and swearing.

A discussion ensued that had little to do with the search for truth. Both sides appealed to the court, Miller, in addition, complained to his European colleagues, accusing Lomonosov of intrigue and dishonesty.

As a result, Miller, guilty only of regularly reading and quoting ancient Russian chronicles, was demoted from academician to adjunct and his annual salary was cut from a thousand to 360 rubles.

Miller got off easy. Under Stalin, one could get a prison sentence for adhering to “Normanism.” Lomonosov's "objections" were republished and declared an indisputable truth.

Currently, the role of the Varangians in the formation of Kievo-Novgorod Rus' is not questioned. The portrait gallery of outstanding rulers in the Grand Kremlin Palace opens with a conventional image of Rurik.

Founder of the university

Lomonosov's most significant act is, undoubtedly, the creation of Moscow University in 1755, in which Ivan Shuvalov actively supported him.

The corresponding decree was signed by the Empress on January 12 (25), St. Tatiana's Day, which has since been considered Student's Day in Russia.

Lomonosov developed a charter for it, insisting that not only nobles, but also commoners could receive higher education and that the university should have broad autonomy, not subordinate to anyone except the monarch, the governing Senate and its curator. Shuvalov became the first curator.

Image caption Moscow State University is named after its founder

At its founding, the university had three faculties - philosophy, law and medicine. Now it has 39 faculties, with about 40 thousand students.

The light of university education came to Russia later than to other countries. The world's first University of Bologna has existed since 1088. The university at Oxford was opened in 1096, in Paris in 1215, at Harvard in 1636, and even in colonial Havana in 1728.

Peter I attached little importance to humanities and did not create a university during the quarter century of his reform activities.

The dominant thought in the minds of the founders of Moscow State University was: “Catch up with Europe!”

When, after some time, a gymnasium was opened at the university, its first director, Lomonosov’s student Nikolai Popovsky, gave the following speech to the students: “If you have the desire and diligence, then soon you will be able to show that you, too, are given by nature the same minds as those in which entire nations boast; assure the world that Russia, more due to the late start of learning than due to impotence, did not manage to join the number of enlightened peoples."

Moscow University remained the only one in the country for about half a century. Universities in St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kharkov and Dorpat (Tartu) were opened only under Alexander I.

Diverse interests

Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption Lomonosov presented Pyotr Shuvalov with his own mosaic portrait

Another successful project of Lomonosov is the revival in Russia of the art of mosaic, abandoned after the Tatar-Mongol invasion.

The first mosaic paintings were brought to St. Petersburg from Italy by Count Tretyakov. Lomonosov became interested in this matter, composed a special ode “On the Benefits of Glass” and organized a mosaic factory near Oranienbaum, for which he received from the treasury four villages with serfs.

Less successful was the expedition to search for the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean (along the northern shores of Greenland and the Canadian archipelago).

Lomonosov assumed that north of the 80th parallel the Arctic seas were free of ice, but his hope was not justified. The ships under the command of Captain Vasily Chichagov only reached Spitsbergen and were forced to turn back.

Around the same time, and with equal success, Cook and La Perouse tried to find the Northwest Passage.

Lomonosov's odes can in all fairness be considered the beginning of Russian literature Vissarion Belinsky

Lomonosov is deservedly considered the founder of not only Russian science, but also Russian literature. Together with Antioch Kantemir, Alexander Sumarokov and Vasily Trediakovsky, he is among the founders of Russian poetry.

Today, to put it mildly, no one reads their poems, but it is important that they were the first.

One of the side effects of market reforms in modern Russia has been the decline in prestige and support for science, which does not provide quick financial returns.

Critics of this situation point out that trading gas and imported consumer goods is, of course, necessary, but a country that does not occupy a vanguard position in the field of fundamental research cannot claim a worthy place in the world.

In their opinion, Russian science today could use a person with the authority and organizational skills of Lomonosov.

The history of mankind knows many multi-talented people. And among them, the great Russian scientist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov should be placed in one of the first places. This is the first Russian scientist - a natural scientist of world significance, an encyclopedist, a chemist and a physicist (he entered science as the first chemist who gave physical chemistry a definition very close to the modern one, and outlined an extensive program of physical and chemical research; his molecular kinetic theory of heat in in many ways anticipated the modern understanding of the structure of matter, many fundamental laws, including one of the principles of thermodynamics, laid the foundations of the science of glass), astronomer, instrument maker, geographer, metallurgist, geologist, poet, established the foundations of the modern Russian literary language, artist, historian, champion of the development of domestic education, science and economics. In short, one of the most outstanding luminaries of world science.

December at the Kholmogory Voivodeship Office received a passport (?) December went on foot to Moscow January enrolled as a student at the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy studying at the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy studying at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy January enrolled as a student at St. Petersburg Academic University in October he was sent to Germany to study mining and metallurgy; he studied at the University of Marburg; from January he took a course in mechanics by Professor H. Wolf and a course in theoretical chemistry by Professor J. G. Duizing; in February he married the daughter of his landlady, Elisabeth-Christina Zilch; in November his daughter was born; On November 9, she was baptized in the church of the Reformed community with the name Catherine-Elizabeth under the leadership of I.F. Henkel, studied mining in May, got married in the church of the Reformed community of Marburg with Elizabeth-Christina Zilch at the end of May, heading home, near Dusselford, “seemed to the Prussians a good fish for I caught them and was tricked into becoming a recruit, but in October he escaped, arrived via Arnheim and Utrecht in Amsterdam and then to The Hague, and only after returning to Amsterdam again, from there he went by sea to Russia in June and returned to St. Petersburg in December in Marburg. Lomonosov had a son, named Ivan at baptism January appointed adjunct of the physical class of the Academy of Sciences and Arts July appointed professor of chemistry June for the first time gave public lectures in Russian on physics created the first research and educational chemical laboratory in Russia carried out manufacturing work in the chemical laboratory colored glasses and paints, chemical analysis of ores February, daughter Elena was born in the chemical laboratory gave the first ever course of lectures on physical chemistry, a glass factory was founded in the village of Ust-Ruditsa according to the project of M. V. Lomonosov, Moscow University was established, appointed advisor to the Academic Chancellery, became head of the Historical Collection , Geographical Department, academic university and gymnasium April The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences elected M. V. Lomonosov as an honorary member October elected a member of the Academy of the Three Most Noble Arts (for mosaic works) (?) April elected an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of the Bologna Institute April died of pneumonia in his own house on the Moika River in April he was buried at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra

Mikhail Vasilyevich was born on November 19 in the village of Mishaninskaya, Kurostrovskaya volost, Dvina district, Arkhangelsk province, in a fairly prosperous family of Pomor Vasily Dorofeevich () and the daughter of the mallow baker of the Nikolaevsky Matigor churchyard, Elena Ivanovna (nee Sivkova) Lomonosov. There is extremely scant information about the first years of Mikhail Lomonosov’s life. The father, according to his son, was a kind man by nature, but “raised in extreme ignorance.” M.V. Lomonosov's mother died very early, when he was nine years old. In 1721, my father married Feodora Mikhailovna Uskova, the daughter of a peasant from the neighboring Ukhtostrovskaya volost. In the summer of 1724 she died. A few months later, returning from fishing, his father married for the third time to the widow Irina Semyonovna (nee Korelskaya). For thirteen-year-old Lomonosov, his father’s third wife turned out to be an “evil and envious stepmother.” "Mikhailo Lomonosov", 1986 Ballet. Photoshoot. CINEMA The personality of M.V. Lomonosov can only be understood by having an idea of ​​the nature in which he grew up, that he came from that part of the Russian people that never experienced the oppression of the yoke and did not know slavery. Here were the descendants of Novgorodians who did not know serfdom, “black-nosed”, state peasants, strict in morals, active, independent, “who knew how to stand up for themselves, united in zemstvo worlds.” They were unfamiliar with corvée labor and the burden of state taxes; they had plenty of money, developing a commercial economy, trade and crafts. The Pomors mastered navigation and went to the Arctic Ocean, to Novaya Zemlya. On Murman there were fishing camps, fishing with huge nets, hunting, cooking salt, resin, and mining mica. There is a rich tradition of artistic needlework here. In the absence of schools, the Pomors taught each other to read and write, copied and carefully stored handwritten books. The youthful handwriting of M. Lomonosov

In December 1730, a caravan with fish set off from Kholmogory to Moscow. At night, when everyone in the house was asleep, Lomonosov put on two shirts and a sheepskin coat, took with him “Grammar” and “Arithmetic” given to him by his neighbor and set off in pursuit of the caravan. On the third day he overtook him and begged the fishermen to allow him to go with them. Lomonosov carefully thought through his departure from the house. He learned that only in three cities of Russia - Moscow, Kyiv and St. Petersburg - can one master higher sciences. He chose Moscow. A long and difficult winter road awaited Lomonosov. Having covered the entire journey in three weeks with a fish train, Lomonosov arrived in Moscow in early January 1731, where he knew no one. About his admission to the “Spassky Schools”, that is, to the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, M.V. Lomonosov writes: “I enrolled in the Moscow Spassky Schools on January 15, 1731. Salaries in the six lower schools are 3 kopecks per day, and in the seventh 4 kopecks per day...” An amazing sense of purpose was inherent in M.V. Lomonosov. While many of his comrades in the Spassky schools spent their free hours carefree, in the library of the Zaikonospassky Monastery he read chronicles, patristics and other theological books, publications of secular content and philosophical, and even physical and mathematical works; “those found in this book confirmed it in the Slavic language.” Modern researchers note Lomonosov’s deep familiarity with a variety of genres of ancient Russian literature. From his academic biography it is known that after the first half of the year he was transferred from the lower class to the second, and in the same year to the third. A year later, having sufficiently mastered Latin, and being already able to compose short poems in Latin, he began to learn Greek. In 1730 he was transferred to the Latin grammar class. Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy

In the 1740s, M.V. Lomonosov wrote in his “handwritten draft notebooks” “Introduction to true physical chemistry” (lat. Prodromus ad verum Chimium Physicam), and “The beginning of physical chemistry necessary for young people who want to improve in it” (lat. Tentamen Chymiae Physicae in usum studiuosae juventutis adornatum) had already given an outline of the future course of the new science, more strictly formed by January 1752, about which the scientist writes in the results of 1751: “I invented some new tools for Physical Chemistry,” and in the results of 1752 “dictated to the students and interpreted the prolegomena I composed for Physical Chemistry in Latin, which is contained on 13 sheets in 150 paragraphs, with many figures on six half-sheets.” Then M.V. Lomonosov outlined a huge program for studying solutions, which has not been fully implemented to this day. M.V. Lomonosov laid the foundations of physical chemistry when he attempted to explain chemical phenomena on the basis of the laws of physics and his own theory of the structure of matter. An important feature of the science, the foundation of which was laid by M.V. Lomonosov, was his method, which involved the study of the connection between physical and chemical phenomena. Constantly engaged in practical science, he finds confirmation in it of his theoretical views, but not only this is served by experiment; the scientist uses it to develop practice as such, based on an understanding of the laws of certain processes. This technique concerns not only chemistry and physics, but also issues of chemistry that accompany electrical experiments and optical phenomena, the properties of objects of study, their chemical composition and molecular structure. All these factors speak of a well-conscious, developed and consistently applied system of views and techniques, which, from the point of view of the theory of knowledge, provides correct experimental confirmation of hypotheses, which can therefore become the basis of the theory. This methodological circle can be defined, to paraphrase the scientist himself, as “revitalizing” theory and making practice “sighted.”

In the mid-18th century, European science was dominated by the theory of caloric, first put forward by Robert Boyle. This theory was based on the idea of ​​​​a certain fiery (or, as an option, cold-forming) matter, through which heat, as well as fire, is distributed and transmitted. In the 18th century, carbon dioxide by Robert Boyle M. V. Lomonosov draws the attention of the scientific community to the fact that neither the expansion of bodies by As heat increases, neither the increase in weight during firing nor the focusing of sunlight by a lens can be qualitatively explained by the theory of caloric. The connection between thermal phenomena and changes in mass partly gave rise to the idea that mass increases due to the fact that material caloric penetrates the pores of bodies and remains there. But, asks M.V. Lomonosov, why does caloric remain when a body cools, but the heat is lost? Refuting one theory, M.V. Lomonosov proposes another, in which he cuts off the unnecessary concept of caloric. Here are the logical conclusions of M.V. Lomonosov, according to which, “a sufficient basis for heat lies”: 1) “in the movement of some matter” since “when the movement stops, the heat also decreases”, and “motion cannot occur without matter”; 2) “in the internal movement of matter,” since it is inaccessible to the senses; 3) “in the internal movement of the bodies’ own matter,” that is, “not extraneous”; 4) “in the rotational motion of particles of the bodies’ own matter”, since “there are very hot bodies without” two other types of motion “internal translational and oscillatory”, for example. the hot stone is at rest (no translational motion) and does not melt (no oscillatory motion of particles). These arguments had a huge resonance in European science. The theory, as expected, was more criticized than accepted by scientists. Basically, criticism was directed at the following aspects of the theory: M. V. Lomonosov’s particles are necessarily spherical, which has not been proven (according to Rene Descartes, before all particles were cubic, but later they were erased into balls); Rene Descartes is cubic balls The statement that oscillatory motion entails decay body and therefore cannot serve as a source of heat, however, it is generally known that the particles of bells vibrate for centuries and the bells do not crumble; If heat through the rotation of particles were transferred only by transferring the action of a body to another body, then “not even a heap of gunpowder would ignite” from a spark; And since, due to the attenuation of the rotational motion when it is transferred from one particle to another, “the Lomonosov heat, along with that motion, disappeared; but this would be sad, especially in Russia.”

On May 26, 1761, observing the passage of Venus across the solar disk, M.V. Lomonosov discovered the presence of an atmosphere. This cosmic phenomenon was calculated in advance and was eagerly awaited by astronomers around the world. The effect was seen by many observers: Schappe Doterosh, S. Ya. Rumovsky, L. V. Vargentin, T. O. Bergman, but only M. V. Lomonosov correctly understood it and explained it by the refraction of solar rays occurring in the atmosphere of Venus. In astronomy, this phenomenon of light scattering, the reflection of light rays during grazing incidence (in M.V. Lomonosov’s “bump”), received its name “Lomonosov phenomenon.” The scientist designed and built several fundamentally new optical instruments; he created the Russian school of scientific and applied optics. M. V. Lomonosov created a catoptric-dioptric incendiary system; a device “for condensing light”, which he called a “night telescope”, intended for viewing distant objects at sea at night or, as stated in his article dedicated to this “Physical problem about the night telescope” (1758), which served as an opportunity to “distinguish at night rocks and ships." Also, M.V. Lomonosov developed and built an optical bathoscope or a new “instrument that would allow us to see the bottom of rivers and the sea much deeper than we can simply see. Drawings by M. V. Lomonosov from manuscripts

Over the years, while studying atmospheric electricity, M.V. Lomonosov set the task of writing a work devoted to the general theory of electricity. The scientist began work on the Latin manuscript only in April 1756, but already in May, having switched to “A Discourse on Aerial Phenomena Produced by Electrical Force,” he left the first one without completing it. M. V. Lomonosov “A Word about Air Phenomena...” In the works of M. V. Lomonosov devoted to the study of electricity, what is especially valuable is their focus from qualitative observations to the establishment of quantitative patterns and the formation of the foundations of the theory of electricity. Carrying out these studies independently, he, G.V. Richman and B. Franklin achieved the most convincing results. During these joint studies with M.V. Lomonosov, in 1745, G.V. Richman developed the first electrical measuring device for experimental observation, the “electrical pointer,” which, unlike the electroscope already in use, was “equipped with a wooden quadrant with a degree scale for measuring the degree electricity" *** On November 26, 1753, he gave a large report, “A Word on Aerial Phenomena, Occurring from Electrical Forces,” and, importantly, in Russian. M.V. Lomonosov presented his strictly scientific theory of atmospheric electricity, which fully corresponds to modern views concerning these phenomena.

As part of meteorological research, including measurements at different altitudes (temperature, pressure, etc.), M. V. Lomonosov, regardless of the idea of ​​​​Leonardo da Vinci, whose works were found much later, developed a vertical take-off aircraft, the first prototype of a helicopter, with two equal screws on parallel axes, equidistant from the center of gravity and the axis of the device. However, he did not imply manned flights, only the raising of weather instruments. Documents show that the scientist made a working model of it. According to the minutes of the conference of the Academy of Sciences (1754, July 1; translation from Latin) and in the report of M.V. Lomonosov on scientific work in 1754 (1755): “4...The venerable adviser Lomonosov showed the machine he had invented, which he called aerodynamic [ air-fueling], which should be used in order to press the air [throw it down] with the help of wings, moved horizontally in different directions by the force of the spring, which is usually supplied to watches, so that the machine will rise to the upper layers of the air, with the aim that it can It was necessary to examine the conditions [state] of the upper air using meteorological machines [instruments] attached to this aerodynamic machine. The machine was suspended on a cord stretched across two blocks and kept in balance by weights suspended from the opposite end. As soon as the spring was wound up, [the machine] rose in height and then promised to achieve the desired action. But this effect, in the judgment of the inventor, will increase even more if the force of the spring is increased and if the distance between one and the other pair of wings is increased, and the box in which the spring is placed is made of wood to reduce weight. He [the inventor] promised to take care of this... / 5...I made an experiment on a machine that, rising up on its own, could lift a small thermometer with it in order to find out the degree of heat at altitude, which, although it was lighter by more than two spools, however, it has not been brought to the desired end.”... “Prototype” by M. V. Lomonosov. 1754

* Contribution to the development of rhetoric It cannot be said that before Lomonosov in Russia absolutely no one was interested in rhetoric. There were also textbooks on this subject. But all of them were compiled either in Church Slavonic or in Latin, and Lomonosov in 1743 wrote a “Brief Guide to Rhetoric” in Russian. Lomonosov's main work on rhetoric was “Rhetoric” of 1748, which became, in fact, the first anthology of world literature in Russia, which also included the best works of Russian literature. Lomonosov's manuals were the first publicly available manuals on eloquence. *Grammar and style theory “Russian grammar” are the foundations and norms of the Russian language, in which Lomonosov developed the concepts of parts of speech, spelling and pronunciation of a particular word. The orthoepic recommendations of the “Russian Grammar” are based on the specifics of the “Moscow dialect”: “The Moscow dialect is rightly preferred to others not only for the importance of the capital city, but also for its excellent beauty.” Lomonosov introduced the concept of artistic and expressive techniques. He developed the stylistic system of the Russian language, the theory of three styles (the book “Discourse on the Use of Church Books in the Russian Language”). *Poetic theory and practice Based on the German model, he created the classic Russian iambic tetrameter, initially “heavy” full-stressed (odes to Ivan Antonovich, “Evening Reflection”), then lightened by omissions of stress. The founder of the Russian solemn (addressed to the rulers) and philosophical ode. Lomonosov's poetry is full of scientific, cosmic and natural-philosophical imagery (didactic message to Shuvalov, “Reflections”); he contributed to Russian satire ("Hymn to the Beard", epigrams). The unfinished poem “Peter the Great” became an attempt at a national epic. Many of Lomonosov's lines became famous. M. V. Lomonosov. Russian grammar in German. Saint Petersburg. 1764

The said work mentions the “vagrs”. Lomonosov equates them to the Varangians. The religious beliefs of the Roxolans include worship of Perun. Hence, their identification with the Slavic population. In addition, many peoples living along the Baltic coast were called “Varangians”. Conclusion: there were Varangian-Russians and Varangian-Scandinavians. The Russian language lacks elements of the Scandinavian languages. Consequently, there is no reason to say that the Varangians mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years are Scandinavians. The ethnogenesis of Russians in general, in his opinion, occurred on the basis of a mixture of Slavs and the so-called. “Chudi” (in Lomonosov’s terminology these are Finno-Ugric peoples). The place of the beginning of the ethnic history of Russians, in his opinion, is the area between the Vistula and Oder rivers. The main work on history “Ancient Russian History”. M.V. Lomonosov compares Russian history with the history of the Roman Empire. A comparative analysis of ancient beliefs and the beliefs of the Eastern Slavs reveals many similar elements. In his opinion, the roots of the formation of the pagan pantheon are the same. Working through individual sections of “Russian History,” Lomonosov compiled “A Brief Russian Chronicler with Genealogy.” Here, in a concise form, all the main events of Russian history from 862 to 1725 were presented. This book facilitated the use of chronicles and other historical documents, and provided a brief but informative summary of historical facts. The need for such a publication was very great, and after its publication it received recognition from readers. In addition, during Lomonosov’s lifetime, “The Chronicler” was translated into German, and then republished twice, in 1767 and 1771. In 1767, its English translation was published. M. V. Lomonosov as a historian is a representative of the liberal-noble trend in Russian historiography of the 18th century. He was a supporter of the Sarmatian theory. He believed that the Rus and Roksolans originated from the Black Sea coast. Using the “District Epistle of Patriarch Photius,” he refuted the Norman theory.

On November 19, Moscow University hosted festive events dedicated to the tercentenary of the birth of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov. In the morning from his small homeland M.V. Lomonosov - Arkhangelsk region in Moscow, a symbolic “Torch of Knowledge” arrived at the old building on Mokhovaya Street in the center of the capital. From the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, the relay race passed through the streets of Moscow to the University Square and along the Alley of Scientists to the Main Building of Moscow State University. At noon near the monument to M.V. A concert took place for Lomonosov.

In the foyer of the Assembly Hall of Moscow State University, original works by M.V. were presented. Lomonosov, both scientific and poetic, in Russian, French and Latin.

The ceremonial meeting in the Assembly Hall of the Main Building of Moscow State University was opened by the Rector of Moscow State University V.A. Sadovnichy, noting that it is a great honor to have the right to make the first speech at such a solemn event. After this, honored guests were invited to the podium.

The first speaker was the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation A.A. Fursenko, who read out congratulations from D.A. Medvedev. Particularly noted was the fact that it was M.V. Lomonosov laid the foundations of the academic school in our country, left a rich scientific heritage and instilled the principle of humanism in education in Russia.

Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation S.B. also spoke about the rich heritage of Mikhail Vasilyevich. Ivanov. And one of its most important parts is the formation of the education system. The principle of fundamentality, the inextricable connection between education and science, became largely decisive for the subsequent successes of Russian science. That is why, according to the guest, we have the right to be proud of the achievements of our country. According to Sergei Borisovich, “the development of science is a matter of national importance.”

In his speech V.A. Sadovnichy noted that the hall brought together the rectors of not only the country's leading universities, but also the CIS countries - an entire scientific corporation, the roots of which go back to the scientific research of Mikhailo Lomonosov. He not only understood the role of science in the history of Russia, but also devoted his entire life to it. The scientist conducted a huge amount of research in a variety of fields and made many discoveries, including the discovery of the atmosphere of Venus. Lomonosov was a master of mosaics, creating machines for studying natural phenomena such as thunder and lightning. He developed a plan for the expedition along the Northern Sea Route and described what kind of research should be carried out. Knowing that the goal of such an expedition was to increase the territory of Russia, the scientist said that pillars with the date of landing should be left on the shores so that there would be no disputes in the future. Despite the fact that the expedition, alas, was not successful due to some shortcomings, one extremely interesting story is connected with it. Viktor Antonovich spoke about a letter that arrived at Moscow State University a few days ago. It was a copy of a letter from the rector of Yale University with a request to keep him informed of the events of the expedition and to conduct several particularly important experiments. However, upon learning of Lomonosov's death, the rector did not send the letter. And only now has it reached Russia. The original of this letter is now kept in the Franklin Archives in Philadelphia.

President of the RAS Yu.S. Osipov noted that Lomonosov seemed to combine two people - a romantic and a pragmatist, a poet and a scientist. He was the father of Russian literature and physical chemistry, an explorer of earth and language, an amazingly talented and comprehensively developed genius with a complex character and unshakable principles.

Words of gratitude to the scientist were also expressed that day by other guests, among whom were cosmonauts, who congratulated those gathered in the hall directly from the ISS. More than once the lines were heard that M.V. Lomonosov is not only the pride of Russia, but truly the pride of all humanity.

Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region I.F. ended his speech effectively. Mikhalchuk. His wish can also be applied to us, the heirs of Mikhail Vasilyevich’s intellectual wealth: “It is necessary to live and work like Lomonosov: with deep and unshakable faith in the people and in Russia!”