Semenov-Tyan-Shansky P.P., (1827-1914), geographer

Categories / Science. Education/Personalia
SEMENOV-TYAN-SHANSKY (real name Semenov) Peter Petrovich (1827, St. Petersburg - 1914, Petrograd), geographer, statistician, public figure and statesman, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1873), Academy of Arts (1874), senator (1882) and member of the State Assembly (1897). He graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of St. Petersburg University in 1848. In 1856-57, he travelled to Tyan Shan and was the first to obtain reliable data of the nature of this mountain range. In 1906, he was awarded the name Tyan-Shansky for his achievement. From 1864 to 1873, he headed the Central Statistical Committee. In 1897, he initiated and organised the first general census in Russia. In 1873-1914, he was the vice-president of the Russian Geographical Society and the head of the Russian Entomological Society (from 1890 to 1914). He wrote and edited a large number of scientific works and publications, like The Geographical and Statistical Dictionary of Russian Empire (1863-85), Picturesque Russia (1881-85), Russia, Complete Geographical Description of Our Homeland (1899-1914, together with V.I. Lamansky). In 1861, he settled at 39 Eighth Line of Vasilievsky Island (memorial plaque). Buried at Smolenskoe Orthodox cemetery. A monument to Semenov-Tyan-Shansky was erected at Lermontovsky Avenue in 1987 (sculptor A.P. Timchenko).

References: Козлов И. В., Козлова А. В. Петр Петрович Семенов-Тян-Шанский, 1827-1914. М., 1991.

L. I. Yarukova. Lamansky Vladimir Ivanovich
Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (real name Semenov) Peter Petrovich
Timchenko Alexey Pavlovich
8th Line of Vasilievsky Island/Saint Petersburg, city, house 39
Lermontovsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Козлов И. В., Козлова А. В. Петр Петрович Семенов-Тян-Шанский, 1827-1914. М., 1991 Russian Academy of Sciences
State Assembly
State University, St. Petersburg
Russian Geographical Society
Russian Entomological Society