Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - Maclay is a famous ethnographer, traveler and anthropologist. Many research and scientific works belong to him. Nikolai Nikolaevich was a frequent visitor to the royal court, entertaining the imperial family with his stories about life in New Guinea
Family and childhood of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - 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 Miklukha is rich in many different events and interesting facts.
Nikolai's father, Nikolai Ilyich Miklukha, was a railway engineer. Mother Ekaterina Semyonovna came from a noble family of Bekkers, 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 moved to St. Petersburg for permanent residence. Miklouho-Maclay's family was of average income, but there was enough money for education and upbringing of children.
After the death of his father, Nikolai's mother made a living by drawing maps. This gave her the opportunity to invite teachers for her two sons, Nikolai and Sergei, to the house. Since childhood, Nikolai has mastered German and French. His mother hired a drawing teacher for him, who was able to open the boy's artistic abilities.
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 unavailable. The brothers were transferred to a state gymnasium. Studying 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 going to the 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 basic courses, Nikolai was seriously engaged in physiology. However, he did not succeed in obtaining a higher education diploma in Russia. Due to a small incident, the young man was prohibited from attending lectures.
The desire to study the natural sciences was so strong that the mother, surrendering to the persuasion of her son, sent him to study in Germany. During his life abroad, Nikolai changes three different universities. First, he entered the University of Heidelberg, then transferred to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Leipzig. The last place of study is the University of Jena, where Nikolai studies animal anatomy. Having received a diploma, the young man returns to Russia.
Scientific activity of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - Maclay
The University of Jena gave Nikolai the opportunity to take part in a scientific expedition for the first time. He was the most beloved student and assistant of Haeckel, therefore, at the request of the professor, he went with him to Sicily to study the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean. The practical experience came in handy for Nicholas during his trip to the island of Tenerife.
Nikolai Nikolaevich's real scientific activity 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. In the summer of this year, Nikolai published his first scientific article in the Jena Journal of Medicine and Natural Science.
The scientist undertook two large and long journeys to New Guinea, where he studied the life and activities 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.
Personal life of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho - Maclay
The scientist's lectures were successful not only in Europe, but also in Russia. He spoke with stories about the aborigines of New Guinea in meetings with the imperial family. Subsequently, Nikolai Nikolaevich conducted several more expeditions to Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia. While in Australia, Nikolai met his future wife, Margarita Robertson, Clark. They were officially married in 1886. From this marriage, Nikolai had two children.
In 1887 the scientist returned to Odessa. Here he creates a project for a scientific sea station, but Emperor Alexander III did not support his decision. Numerous travels and research worsened Nikolai's health condition. He received a serious jaw disease, which doctors later identified as a malignant tumor. Nikolai Nikolaevich died in 1888.
