Pomor Polymath: The Upbringing of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov, 1711–1730

The life story of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711–1765) opens a window onto Russian science, politics, language, and social advancement in the era of Peter the Great (1672–1725). We cover Lomonosov’s background and upbringing, from his birth in 1711 near Kholmogory until his departure for Moscow on foot in 1730. The special character of the Pomor region, in Russia’s north, where Lomonosov was born and raised, is important for understanding his character, upbringing, and subsequent career trajectory. This character sprang from four overlapping factors: the isolation of the region, the political and religious tolerance that mainly prevailed there, the trade that brought the region into contact with foreigners, and the hardy lifestyle.