Who participated in the creation of Moscow State University? Interesting facts from the history of the first Russian university

At the moment, the Russian Federation boasts 2,500 universities. However, until the middle of the 18th century, even in Moscow there was not a single higher educational institution. Who participated in the creation of Moscow State University? What distinguished the university from European analogues, as well as interesting facts and myths about the country's oldest university, read in our material.

How was Moscow University created?

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that MSU was not the first university in the country. He was surpassed by the University of St. Petersburg, which was still open under Peter the Great. However, the educational institution did not reach the European level, and for such a large country one university was not enough.

This was understood by the first Russian academician - Mikhail Lomonosov. It was he who came up with the project of Moscow State University and wrote a letter to the favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Shuvalov. The youngest daughter of Peter I saw prospects in this project and signed it. The year of foundation of the Moscow State University is officially 1755th. The date coincided with the name day of Saint Tatiana - on January 25. Therefore, this day is celebrated the day of students.

All those who participated in the creation of the Moscow State University, from the very beginning took seriously the project. First, the university was allocated a building in the center of Moscow on Red Square (now the Historical Museum is based there). Secondly, the state did not spare money for the maintenance of the university. At Moscow State University huge sums were spent. A thousand gold went to appliances and equipment, four times the library cost the university. On the very creation of the university spent 10 thousand rubles.

The first faculties of Moscow State University

The creation of the Moscow State University by Lomonosov in many respects spurred the development of culture and science in the country. It was the Moscow University that for the first time in the history of Russia began to recruit not only noble descendants, but also children from other classes. The only exception was that the serfs were serfs. You could study at Moscow State University at three faculties:

• Medical;
• Philosophical;
• Legal.

Unlike Europe, there was no theological department in the Russian university. In addition, students could study science in both Latin and native language. The most capable pupils were subsequently sent to Europe. So to speak, for further training.

Teacher of the University (according to the project of Lomonosov) could also be a man from any class. In the second half of the 18th century, 26 professors worked at the Moscow State University, only three of them could boast of noble roots.

Despite huge investments, the university did not have enough money. The University was helped by well-known philanthropists: Demidov, Dashkova, Stroganovs. This is only part of those figures who participated in the creation of the Moscow State University. In addition, the financial institution was supported by former graduates, and the professors bequeathed to the library their accumulated collections of works.

Great minds from Moscow University

The overwhelming majority of educators of the 18th and 19th centuries graduated from Moscow State University. The history of the establishment of the university, thus, determined the fate of the country. A year after the foundation of the university, he opened a printing house and a bookshop. At the Moscow State University, the first non-governmental publication - the newspaper Moskovskiye Vedomosti - was launched. For more than a century anyone could attend lectures of professors or the library of Moscow University.

In the 18th century, the figures of Russian science and culture, such as the philosopher Anichkov, mathematician Pankevich, physicist Strakhov, were issued from the walls of the university. University and writers Fonvizin and Novikov graduated. A century later, scientific societies began to be formed at Moscow State University. For example, lovers of Russian literature.

Griboedov, Chaadaev, Goncharov, Tyutchev, Chekhov and Fet are just a small part of the famous graduates of Moscow State University. Most of them spent their whole lives remembering their native university warmly. That's only Athanasius Fet for some reason could not tolerate the capital's high school. Every time he passed or passed MSU, he approached the doors of the building, spat on them and then went on his business.

Myths and facts from the history of the university

Despite the fact that Lomonosov was the first who participated in the creation of Moscow State University, his name was given to the university only in 1940. In addition, world history did not pass by the country's oldest university. So, during the Second World War, Moscow University was evacuated from the capital. First to Ashgabat, then to Sverdlovsk. But even in the evacuation, he continued to produce valuable shots. So, during the war more than 3000 specialists came from MSU. The same number of scientific developments were carried out within the walls of the university for those terrible 4 years.

In 1953, Moscow University received a new building on Vorobyovy Gory. Initially, it was planned that the 36-storey high-rise will be crowned with a statue of Stalin, but in the year of construction the leader died, and now the Moscow State University is adorned with a spire. They say that the modern building is so strong that it can withstand bombardment, and various legends and myths go about its basements.