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Samuil GmelinTraveler
Date of Birth: 23.06.1745
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Samuel Gmelin
Samuel Georg Gmelin was a traveler, scientist, and naturalist. He received his education at the university and earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1763. He later became a professor of botany in 1767 and chemistry in 1772.
Arrival in Russia
In 1767, Gmelin was invited to Russia by the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. The following year, he was sent by Catherine the Great to the southern provinces with four students, a pharmacist, and a painter, in order to document the physical characteristics of the region. Their journey took them through Moscow, Voronezh, Azov, and finally to Astrakhan.
Explorations
During his time in Russia, Gmelin conducted various explorations. In 1768, he investigated the Valday Heights, and in 1769, he traced the Don River to its mouth and explored the lower Volga region. His most notable expedition took place in 1770 when he traveled to Persia.
Capture and Death
Tragedy struck in 1773 when Gmelin was captured by the mountain ruler Usmei-Khan, near Kizlyar, just five days' journey and 80 versts away from Derbent. He remained in captivity until his death on June 27, 1774. Some of his manuscripts were saved by his companions and sent to Kizlyar, while the rest were forcibly taken from him by the captors. His last known letter, dated July 11, 1774, expressed his dire condition.
Legacy
One of Gmelin's most significant contributions is his work titled "Journey through Russia to Study the Three Kingdoms of Nature," published in Saint Petersburg in 1771. This work provides valuable insights into the history of the Lipetsk region, including descriptions of the ironworks, minerals, and mineral springs for which Gmelin conducted the first chemical analyses.
