Adolf Yushkevich
Encyclopedia
Adolph–Andrei Pavlovich Yushkevich was a Soviet historian of mathematics, leading expert in medieval
mathematics of the East and the work of Leonhard Euler
. He is a winner of George Sarton Medal
by the History of Science Society
for a lifetime of scholarly achievement.
, Russian Empire
to a Jewish family. His father was a Sorbonne
-educated philosopher and a mathematician
, active in politics. He was a Menshevik
who was in "ssylka" (deportation
) in Siberia
, and later in France
. His uncle, Semen Solomonovich Yushkevich was a well-known Jewish writer. Yushkevich grew up in St. Petersburg and later in Paris
where he lived until Russian Revolution of 1917, when Yushkevich family returned to Odessa
. For a time, Sofya Yanovskaya
was one of Adolf's teachers in a gymnasium
.
In 1923, Yushkevich started his studies at the Department of Mathematics of Moscow State University
. His doctoral advisor was Dmitri Egorov
, but he was awarded a Ph.D. degree without a defense. Between 1930 and 1952, he worked at Bauman Technical University where he rose to professorship in 1940 and head of the department of mathematics in 1941. In the years 1941–1943 he was evacuated to Izhevsk
, together with the whole Bauman Technical University. Starting 1952, he became a full time researcher at Vavilov Institute of Natural History, where he worked until retirement.
Yushkevich published over 300 works in history of mathematics. For his work, he received numerous honors, including George Sarton Medal
(1978), Koyré Medal by the International Academy of the History of Science
(1971), May Prize
(1989) by the International Commission on the History of Mathematics, Prize of the German Academy of Sciences Berlin
(twice, in 1978 and 1983), and Prize of the French Academy of Sciences
(1982). He was a member of several foreign academies, including German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and president of the International Academy of the History of Science (1965–1968).
Yushkevich died in Moscow
in 1993. He bequeathed his personal library to the Vavilov Institute.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
mathematics of the East and the work of Leonhard Euler
Leonhard Euler
Leonhard Euler was a pioneering Swiss mathematician and physicist. He made important discoveries in fields as diverse as infinitesimal calculus and graph theory. He also introduced much of the modern mathematical terminology and notation, particularly for mathematical analysis, such as the notion...
. He is a winner of George Sarton Medal
George Sarton Medal
The George Sarton Medal is the most prestigious award given by the History of Science Society. It has been awarded annually since 1955. It is awarded to an historian of science from the international community who became distinguished for "a lifetime of scholarly achievement" in the field...
by the History of Science Society
History of Science Society
The History of Science Society is the primary professional society for the academic study of the history of science.It was founded in 1924 by George Sarton and Lawrence Joseph Henderson, primarily to support the publication of Isis, a journal of the history of science Sarton had started in 1912....
for a lifetime of scholarly achievement.
Biography
Yushkevich was born in OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
to a Jewish family. His father was a Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
-educated philosopher and a mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, active in politics. He was a Menshevik
Menshevik
The Mensheviks were a faction of the Russian revolutionary movement that emerged in 1904 after a dispute between Vladimir Lenin and Julius Martov, both members of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party. The dispute originated at the Second Congress of that party, ostensibly over minor issues...
who was in "ssylka" (deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
) in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, and later in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His uncle, Semen Solomonovich Yushkevich was a well-known Jewish writer. Yushkevich grew up in St. Petersburg and later in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he lived until Russian Revolution of 1917, when Yushkevich family returned to Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
. For a time, Sofya Yanovskaya
Sofya Yanovskaya
Sofya Aleksandrovna Yanovskaya was a mathematician and historian, specializing in the history of mathematics, mathematical logic, and philosophy of mathematics...
was one of Adolf's teachers in a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
.
In 1923, Yushkevich started his studies at the Department of Mathematics of Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. His doctoral advisor was Dmitri Egorov
Dmitri Egorov
- External links :...
, but he was awarded a Ph.D. degree without a defense. Between 1930 and 1952, he worked at Bauman Technical University where he rose to professorship in 1940 and head of the department of mathematics in 1941. In the years 1941–1943 he was evacuated to Izhevsk
Izhevsk
Izhevsk is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: From 1984 to 1987 Izhevsk carried the name Ustinov |Minister of Defense of the USSR]], Marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center,...
, together with the whole Bauman Technical University. Starting 1952, he became a full time researcher at Vavilov Institute of Natural History, where he worked until retirement.
Yushkevich published over 300 works in history of mathematics. For his work, he received numerous honors, including George Sarton Medal
George Sarton Medal
The George Sarton Medal is the most prestigious award given by the History of Science Society. It has been awarded annually since 1955. It is awarded to an historian of science from the international community who became distinguished for "a lifetime of scholarly achievement" in the field...
(1978), Koyré Medal by the International Academy of the History of Science
International Academy of the History of Science
The International Academy of the History of Science is a membership organization for historians of science. It was founded on 17 August 1928 at the Congress of Historical Science by Aldo Mieli, Abel Rey, George Sarton, Henry E...
(1971), May Prize
Kenneth O. May Prize
Kenneth O. May Prize and Medal in history of mathematics is an award of the International Commission on the History of Mathematics "for the encouragement and promotion of the history of mathematics internationally". It was established in 1989 and is named in honor of Kenneth O. May, the founder of...
(1989) by the International Commission on the History of Mathematics, Prize of the German Academy of Sciences Berlin
German Academy of Sciences Berlin
The German Academy of Sciences at Berlin , later renamed Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic was the most important research institution of East Germany.The academy was founded in 1946 by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany to continue the long tradition of the...
(twice, in 1978 and 1983), and Prize of the French Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
(1982). He was a member of several foreign academies, including German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and president of the International Academy of the History of Science (1965–1968).
Yushkevich died in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1993. He bequeathed his personal library to the Vavilov Institute.