At the moment, the Russian Federation can boast of having 2.5 thousand 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 MSU? How the university differed from its European counterparts, as well as interesting facts and myths about the oldest university in the country, read in our material.
How was Moscow University established?
To be fair, MSU was not the country's first university. Petersburg University, opened under Peter the Great, was ahead of him. However, the educational institution did not reach the European level, and for such a large country, one university was not enough.
The first Russian academician, Mikhail Lomonosov, understood this. It was he who came up with the project of Moscow State University and wrote a letter to the favorite of the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna Shuvalov. The youngest daughter of Peter I saw the prospects in this project and signed it. The official year of establishment of Moscow State University is 1755. The date coincided with the name day of St. Tatiana - January 25th. Therefore, students' day is celebrated on this day.
Everyone who participated in the creation of Moscow State University took the project seriously from the very beginning. First, the university was given a building in the center of Moscow on Red Square (the Historical Museum is now based there). Secondly, the state spared no funds for the maintenance of the university. Huge sums were spent on MSU. A thousand gold pieces were spent on appliances and equipment, and the university library cost four times as much. 10 thousand rubles were spent on the very creation of the university.
The first faculties of Moscow State University
The creation of Moscow State University by Lomonosov in many ways spurred the development of culture and science in the country. It was Moscow University, for the first time in the history of Russia, that began to recruit not only the offspring of the nobility, but also children from other classes. The only exception was for serfs. It was possible to study at Moscow State University at three faculties:
- medical;
- philosophical;
- legal.
Unlike Europe, there was no theological department in a Russian university. In addition, students could study science both in Latin and in their native language. The most capable students were subsequently sent to Europe. So to speak, for advanced training.
A university teacher (according to Lomonosov's project) could also become a person from any class. In the second half of the 18th century, 26 professors worked at Moscow State University, only three of them could boast of noble roots.
Despite the huge investments, the university did not have enough money. The University was helped by well-known patrons: Demidov,Dashkova, Stroganovs. This is only a part of those figures who participated in the creation of Moscow State University. In addition, former graduates supported the university financially, and professors bequeathed their collected works to the library.
Great minds from Moscow University
The vast majority of educators of the 18-19th century graduated from Moscow State University. The history of the creation of the university, thus, determined the future fate of the country. A year after the founding of the university, a printing house and a bookstore were opened under him. At Moscow State University, the first non-governmental publication, the Moskovskie Vedomosti newspaper, began to be published. For more than a century, anyone could visit the lectures of professors or the library of Moscow University.
In the 18th century, figures of Russian science and culture, such as the philosopher Anichkov, the mathematician Pankevich, the physicist Strakhov, graduated from the walls of the university. The writers Fonvizin and Novikov also graduated from the university. A century later, scientific societies began to form at Moscow State University. For example, Lovers of Russian literature.
Griboyedov, Chaadaev, Goncharov, Tyutchev, Chekhov and Fet are just a small part of the eminent graduates of Moscow State University. Most of them fondly recalled their native university all their lives. But Afanasy Fet, for some reason, could not stand the capital's university. Every time he drove or passed by Moscow State University, he approached the doors of the building, spat on them, and then went about his business.
Myths and facts from the history of the university
Despite the fact that Lomonosov was the first to participate in the creation of Moscow State University, the university received his name only in 1940. In addition, world history has not passed by the country's oldest university. So, during World War II, Moscow University was evacuated from the capital. First to Ashgabat, then to Sverdlovsk. But even in the evacuation, he continued to produce valuable personnel. So, during the war, more than 3,000 specialists graduated from Moscow State University. The same number of scientific developments were carried out within the walls of the university during those terrible 4 years.
In 1953, Moscow University received a new building on Sparrow Hills. It was originally planned that the 36-story skyscraper would be crowned with a statue of Stalin, but the leader died in the year of construction, and now Moscow State University adorns the spire. The modern building is said to be so strong that it can withstand a bombardment, and its cellars are full of legends and myths.
