Komarov V.L., (1869-1945), botanist

Categories / Science. Education/Personalia
KOMAROV Vladimir Leontyevich (1869, St. Petersburg - 1945), botanist and geographer, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1920), Vice-President (1930-36) and President (1936-45) of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Hero of Socialist Labor (1943). Graduated from the University of St. Petersburg in 1894, where he began teaching four years later while also teaching at P.F. Lesgaft's courses (1899-1909) and M. Lokhvitskaya-Skaron's courses (from 1906). In 1899, he became part of the St. Petersburg Botanical Gardens and the Botanical Museum. Komarov moved to Moscow in 1935. His major work was the study of the flora of the Far East, Kamchatka and the adjacent areas of North Asia and Eastern Asia; he was also interested in the evolution of vegetables and the theory of speciation. He wrote textbooks and popular science books on botany. He was one of the founders of the Russian Botanical Society (1915), which he directed (from 1930), and was the Honourary president of the Geographic Society of the USSR (from 1940). Komarov received the Stalin Prize twice, in 1941 and 1942. From 1913 to 1935, he lived at 2 Professora Popova Street (memorial plaque installed). The administrative building of the Botanical Gardens at 1 Aptekarsky Avenue also bears a memorial plaque. In 1940 Komarov's name was given to the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR; his name was later given to the former village of Kelomyakki (see Komarovo; a memorial plaque was installed on the building of the railway station there).

References: Павлов Н. В. Владимир Леонтьевич Комаров. М., 1951; Чернов А. Г. В. Л. Комаров. М., 1969.

O. N. Ansberg. Komarov Vladimir Leontievich
Lesgaft Peter Franzevich
Lokhvitskaya-Skalon Mirra Alexandrovna
Aptekarsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 1
Professora Popova St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 2
Павлов Н. В. Владимир Леонтьевич Комаров. М., 1951
Чернов А. Г. В. Л. Комаров. М., 1969 Russian Academy of Sciences
State University, St. Petersburg
Lesgaft's Courses
Botanical Museum
Russian Botanical Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Geographical Society
Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences