Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev was a Russian scientist, professor, and member of the Academy of Sciences, possessing encyclopedic knowledge of chemistry, physics, geography, and economics. He was born in Tobolsk on 27 January (8 February) 1834 into the family of a gymnasium director. After graduating from the Tobolsk Gymnasium, Mendeleev completed the Main Pedagogical Institute in Saint Petersburg with honors and received the title of senior teacher.

Mendeleev began his teaching career in Simferopol and Odessa; in 1856 he defended his master's thesis in chemistry. From 1857 to 1890 he held the position of Professor of Chemistry at the Imperial Saint Petersburg University. In 1869 Mendeleev created the famous periodic system of chemical elements, which became the basis of atomic-molecular theory. Mendeleev was elected a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences but never became a full member due to conflicts. In 1890 the scientist resigned from the university in protest against the administration's policies.

Mendeleev published more than 500 printed works, including fundamental studies on general, organic, and physical chemistry, chemical technology, physics, metrology, aeronautics, meteorology, agriculture, economics, public education, and many other fields. Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev died of pneumonia on 20 January 1907 in Saint Petersburg and was buried at the Literatorskie Mostki (Writers' Footways) of the Volkovo Cemetery.