Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - Maclay - a famous ethnographer, traveler and anthropologist. He wrote many research and scientific works. Nikolai Nikolaevich was a frequent guest of the royal court, entertaining the imperial family with his stories about life in New Guinea
Family and childhood of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho - Maclay
Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - Maclay was born on July 17, 1846. He was born in the village of Yazykovo - Rozhdestvensky Novgorod province. The future famous ethnographer and traveler was born into a noble family. The biography of Nikolai Miklukh is rich in many different events and interesting facts.
Nikolay’s father, Nikolay Ilyich Miklukh, was a railway engineer. Mother Ekaterina Semenovna came from a noble family of Beckers who distinguished themselves during the Patriotic War of 1812. Due to the work of his father, the family was forced to constantly move. In 1855, the whole family arrived in St. Petersburg for permanent residence. The Miklouho-Maclay family was of average wealth, but there was only enough money for the education and upbringing of children.
After the death of his father, Nikolai's mother earned a living by drawing geographical maps. This gave her the opportunity to invite teachers to her house for her two sons, Nikolai and Sergey. From childhood, Nicholas mastered German and French. His mother hired a drawing teacher for him, who was able to discover artistic abilities in the boy.
The first three years after moving to St. Petersburg, Nikolai attended a private school, but after the death of his father, paid education for the family became inaccessible. The brothers were transferred to the state gymnasium. Learning was given to the boy with difficulty. Nikolai often skipped classes. Soon he took part in a student demonstration and ended up in prison.
Studying at the University
Nikolai dropped out of school after moving to 6th grade and began to listen to lectures at the university. His attention was attracted by scientific activity, so he became a volunteer at the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of St. Petersburg University. In addition to the main courses, Nikolai was seriously engaged in physiology. However, he failed to get a higher education diploma in Russia. Due to a small incident, the young man was forbidden to attend lectures.
The desire to engage in natural sciences was so strong that his mother, surrendering to the entreaties of her son, sent him to study in Germany. During his life abroad, Nikolai changes three different universities. First, he enters the University of Heidelberg, then transferred to the medical faculty of the University of Leipzig. The last place of study is the University of Jena, where Nicholas is engaged in the study of animal anatomy. Having received a diploma, the young man returns to Russia.
Scientific activity of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho - Maclay
The University of Jena gave Nicholas the opportunity to participate in a scientific expedition for the first time. He was the most beloved student and assistant of Haeckel, so at the request of the professor went with him to Sicily to study the animal and plant world of the Mediterranean. Practical experience was useful to Nicholas during his trip to the island of Tenerife.
The real scientific activity of Nikolai Nikolaevich began after his trip to Morocco. He discovered several types of microorganisms. However, the local population did not understand the interest of scientists, and the expedition had to be curtailed. The scientist returned to Jena only in 1867. This summer, Nikolai published his first scientific article in the Jena Journal of Medicine and Natural Sciences.
The scientist took two large and long trips to New Guinea, where he studied the life and work of local tribes. Initially, the local population was wary of the researcher, but then he was accepted as a good friend. Nikolai lived in New Guinea from 1870 to 1872.
