Where was Sofia Kovalevskaya born? Sofya Kovalevskaya: biography and achievements in science
Kovalevskaya Sofya Vasilievna was born on January 3, 1850 in Moscow. Her mother was Elisabeth Schubert. The father, artillery general Korvin-Krukovsky, served as head of the arsenal at the time of his daughter’s birth. When the girl turned six, he retired, settling on the family estate. Let us consider further why Sofya Kovalevskaya is famous.
Biography: childhood
After the whole family (parents and two daughters) settled on her father’s family estate, a teacher was hired for the girl. The only subject in which the future mathematics professor did not show any particular interest or any ability was arithmetic. However, over time the situation has changed dramatically. The study of arithmetic lasted up to 10 and a half years. Subsequently, Sofya Kovalevskaya believed that it was this period that gave her the basis of all knowledge. The girl studied the subject very well and solved all the problems quite quickly. Her teacher Malevich, before starting algebra, allowed her to study Bourdon's arithmetic (a two-volume course that was taught at that time in One of the neighbors, noting the girl's success, recommended her father to hire naval lieutenant Strannolyubsky to continue her education. The new teacher was surprised at the speed at the first lesson. with which Sonya has learned the limits.
Fictitious marriage
In 1863, pedagogical courses were opened at the Mariinsky Gymnasium, which included a verbal and natural mathematics department. Sisters Anna and Sophia dreamed of getting there. But the problem was that unmarried girls were not enrolled in the gymnasium. Therefore, they were forced to enter into a fictitious marriage. Vladimir Kovalevsky was chosen as Anna's groom. However, the wedding between them never took place. On one of the dates, he told Anna that he was ready to marry, but with her sister, Sonya. After some time, he was brought into the house and, with the consent of his father, became the groom of the second sister. At that time he was 26, and Sophia was 18 years old.
New life stage
No one imagined then what tasks Sofya Kovalevskaya would cope with after her wedding. The biography of her husband amazed anyone who met him with its fascination. He began earning money at the age of 16 by translating foreign novels for merchants at Gostiny Dvor. Kovalevsky had an amazing memory, extraordinary activity and humanitarian abilities. He categorically refused bureaucratic service, choosing instead publishing work in St. Petersburg. It was he who printed and translated literature, which was extremely in demand by the leading people of the country. Having moved with her husband and sister to St. Petersburg, Sofya Kovalevskaya secretly began to attend lectures. She decided to devote all her strength only to science. The only thing Sofya Kovalevskaya wanted to do was mathematics. Having passed the exam and received a certificate of maturity, she again returned to Strannolyubsky. With him, she began to study science in depth, planning to subsequently continue her work abroad.
Education
At the beginning of April 1869, Sofya Kovalevskaya, her sister and husband left for Vienna. There were geologists needed by Vladimir Onufrievich at that time. However, there were no strong scientists in Vienna. Therefore, Kovalevskaya decides to go to Heidelberg. In her mind, this was the promised land for students. After overcoming a number of difficulties, the commission finally allowed Sophia to listen to lectures on physics and mathematics. For three semesters she took a course from Koenigsberger, who taught the theory of elliptic functions. In addition, she attended lectures on physics and mathematics by Kirchhoff, Helmholtz, Dubois Reymond, and worked in the laboratory under the guidance of the chemist Bunsen. All these people were then in Germany. The teachers were amazed at the abilities that Kovalevskaya possessed. Sofya Vasilievna worked very hard. She quickly mastered all the initial elements, which allowed her to begin independent research. She received rave reviews about herself from Koenigsberger to his teacher, the greatest scientist of that time, Karl Weierstrass. The latter was called by his contemporaries "the great analyst."
Working with Weierstrass
Sofya Kovalevskaya, in the name of her chosen higher destiny, overcame fear and shyness and in early October 1870 headed to Berlin. Professor Weierstrass was not in the mood for conversation and, in order to get rid of the visitor, gave her several problems in the field of hyperbolic functions, inviting her back a week later. Having managed to forget about the visit, the scientist did not expect to see Kovalevskaya at the appointed time. She appeared on the threshold and announced that all problems had been solved. After a while, Weierstrass petitioned for Kovalevskaya to be allowed to attend mathematical lectures. However, the consent of the high council could not be achieved. The University of Berlin not only did not enroll women as students. They were not even allowed to attend lectures as free listeners. Therefore, Kovalevskaya had to limit herself to private lessons with Weierstrass. As contemporaries noted, the outstanding scientist usually overwhelmed his listeners with mental superiority. But Kovalevskaya’s inquisitiveness and thirst for knowledge required increased activity from Weierstrass. He himself often had to solve various problems in order to adequately answer the rather complex questions of his student. Contemporaries noted that one should be grateful to Kovalevskaya for being able to bring Weierstrass out of his isolation.
First independent work
It explored the question of the balance of Saturn's ring. Before Kovalevskaya, Laplace (French astronomer, physicist and mathematician) dealt with this problem. In his work, he considered the ring of Saturn as a complex of several thin elements that do not influence each other. During his research, he found that in cross section it is presented in the shape of an ellipse. However, this solution was only the first and very simplified. Kovalevskaya began research to more accurately establish the balance of the ring. She determined that in cross section one should be presented in the shape of an oval.
Thesis
From the beginning of the winter of 1873 to the spring of 1874, Kovalevskaya was engaged in the study of partial derivatives. She intended to present the work in the form of a doctoral dissertation. Her work was admired in scientific circles. A little later, however, it was found that a similar study had already been carried out by Augustin Cauchy, an outstanding French scientist. But in her work, Kovalevskaya gave the theorem a form that was perfect in its simplicity, rigor and accuracy. Therefore, the problem began to be called the “Cauchy-Kovalevskaya theorem.” It's included in everything basic courses analysis. Of particular interest was the analysis of the heat equation. In the study, Kovalevskaya revealed the existence of special cases. This was a significant discovery for that time. This marked the end of her apprenticeship. The Council of the University of Göttingen awarded her the degree of Doctor of Mathematical Philosophy and Master of Fine Arts "with the highest praise."
Relationship with husband
In 1874, Sofya Kovalevskaya came back to Russia. However, at that time there were terrible conditions in her homeland, which could not allow her to do science the way she wanted. By that time, the fictitious marriage with her husband had become real. During their first stay in Germany they lived in different cities, received education in different institutions. Communication with my husband was carried out through letters. However, subsequently the relationship took a different form. In 1878, the Kovalevskys had a daughter. After her birth, Sophia spent about six months in bed. Doctors no longer hoped for recovery. The body still won, but the heart was struck by a serious disease.
Family collapse
Kovalevskaya had a husband, a child, favorite hobby. It would seem that this should be enough for complete happiness. But Kovalevskaya was characterized by maximalism in everything. She constantly made high demands on life and on everyone around her. She wanted to constantly hear vows of love from her husband, she wanted him to show her signs of attention all the time. But Kovalevsky did not do this. He was a different person, just as passionate about science as his wife. The complete collapse of the relationship came when they decided to go into business. However, despite this, Kovalevskaya remained faithful to science. But in Russia she could not continue working. After the assassination of the king, the situation in the country deteriorated sharply. Sophia and her daughter went to Berlin, and her husband went to Odessa, to visit his brother. However, Vladimir Onufrievich became very confused in his commercial affairs and on the night of April 15-16, 1883, he shot himself. Kovalevskaya was in Paris when she received this news. After the funeral, returning to Berlin, she headed to Weierstrass.
Stockholm University
Weierstrass, having learned about the death of Kovalevskaya’s husband, who always interfered with Sophia’s plans to make science the goal of her life, wrote to Mitgag-Leffler, his colleague. In the letter, he said that now nothing prevents him from giving the student the opportunity to continue her activities. Soon Weierstrass was able to please Kovalevskaya with a positive response from Sweden. On January 30, 1884, she gave her first lecture. The course that Kovalevskaya taught in German was of a private nature. Nevertheless, he gave her an excellent recommendation. At the end of June 1884, she received news that she had been appointed to the position of professor for 5 years.
New work
The woman professor delved deeper and deeper into research work. Now she was studying one of the most difficult problems concerning the rotation of a rigid body. She believed that if she could solve it, then her name would be included among the most outstanding scientists in the world. According to her calculations, it would take another 5 years to complete the task.
Writing activity
In the spring of 1886, Sofya Vasilievna received news of in serious condition his sister. She went home. Kovalevskaya returned to Stockholm with difficult feelings. In this state, she could not continue her research. However, she found a way to talk about her feelings, about herself, her thoughts. Literary work came second important matter, which was handled by Sofia Kovalevskaya. The book she was writing at that time with Anna-Charlotte Edgren-Leffler captured her so much that she did not return to research during this entire time.
Historical discovery
Having recovered from the shock, Kovalevskaya again returned to scientific activity. She is trying to solve the problem of the rotation of a rigid heavy body around a static point. The problem is reduced to the integration of a system of equations that always has three definite integrals. The problem is completely solved when the fourth one is found. Before the discovery of Kovalevskaya, it was found twice. The scientists who investigated the problem were Lagrange and Euler. Kovalevskaya discovered the third case and the fourth integral to it. The solution in its entirety had enough complex look. Perfect knowledge of hyperelliptic functions helped to successfully cope with the task. And currently 4 algebraic integrals exist only in three cases: Lagrange, Euler and Kovalevskaya.
Borden Prize
In 1888, on December 6, the Paris Academy sent a letter to Kovalevskaya. It said that she had been awarded the Borden Prize. It should be said that in the half century since its establishment, only 10 people have become its owners. Moreover, all these ten times it was not awarded in full, but for individual, private decisions. Before Kovalevskaya's opening, no one had been awarded this prize for three years in a row. A week after receiving the news, she arrived in Paris. Academy President Zhansen, an astronomer and physicist, warmly welcomed Sofya Vasilievna. He said that due to the seriousness of her research, the bonus was increased from 3 to 5 thousand francs.
Swedish Academy Award
After receiving the Borden Prize, Kovalevskaya settled near Paris. Here she continued her research on the rotation of bodies for the competition for the King Oscar II award from the Swedish Academy. In the fall, at the start of the university semester, she returned to Stockholm. The work went very quickly. Kovalevskaya wanted to complete the research in time to present the work at the competition. For her work she received a bonus of one and a half thousand crowns.
Attempt to return to Russia
Despite the successes, Kovalevskaya was not happy about anything. She went to treatment but did not complete it. After a short period of time, her health deteriorated again. In this state, Kovalevskaya could not continue her research and again turned to literature. She tried to drown out her longing for Russia with stories about people and her Motherland. It was extremely unbearable for her to be in a foreign land. But, despite the stunning success, she did not have a chance to take a place in domestic universities. Hope appeared when on November 7, 1888 she was elected corresponding member of the physics and mathematics department Russian Academy. In April 1890 she went home. Kovalevskaya hoped that she would be elected a member of the academy instead of the deceased Bunyakovsky. In this way, she could gain financial independence, which would facilitate the continuation of research in her country.
last years of life
In St. Petersburg, Kovalevskaya visited the President of the Russian Academy several times. Konstantinovich was always polite and kind to her, saying that it would be wonderful if she returned to her homeland. But when Kovalevskaya wanted to be present as a corresponding member at a meeting of the Academy, she was refused, since it was “not in customs.” They could not have insulted her more in Russia. In September, Kovalevskaya came back to Stockholm. On January 29, 1891, she died at the age of 41 from heart palsy.
Conclusion
Kovalevskaya was an outstanding person. She was extremely demanding of everything that surrounded her. This is not an ordinary Russian mathematician and mechanic, this is a great scientist who devoted all his strength to science. It is sad to realize that in Russia at that time she was not given due attention, her merits were not recognized, despite her high popularity in scientific circles abroad. Not far from Velikie Luki there is a museum of Sofia Kovalevskaya. Polibino was her small homeland, the place where her passion for science manifested itself.
The apartment building of State Lady Buturlina, where the newlyweds Kovalevsky lived
Having learned that Kovalevskaya lived in this house, I decided to remember her biography. It turned out that Sophia was not only a mathematician, but also a mystic. She believed in signs of fate and prophetic dreams, often anticipating future life events. Kovalevskaya's great-grandmother was a gypsy fortune teller, and Sophia believed that she had inherited her mystical gift.
Throughout her life, Sophia met reliable patrons who helped her move forward and open doors that remained closed to other women scientists in the 19th century. She had some special charm that influenced people.
Sophia saw no contradictions between her passions for science and mystical thoughts: “Many, who have never had the opportunity to learn more about mathematics, confuse it with arithmetic and consider it a dry science. In essence, this is a science that requires the most imagination... You cannot be a mathematician without at the same time being a poet at heart.”- she wrote.
From her great-grandfather Fyodor Schubert, a mathematician and astronomer, Sophia inherited a talent for exact sciences, which brought her worldwide fame.
Sophia's family included Germans, Austrians, Russians, Poles, and gypsies, and she was very proud of her “international blood.” But indeed, geniuses are born with such a “genetic mixture”.
Sophia in her youth
Great-grandfather scientist Fyodor Schubert, whose talent was inherited by Sophia
He came to her in a dream with tips
Sophia developed an interest in mathematics from early years. During the renovation of the estate where the family lived, there was not enough wallpaper for the children's room; one wall had to be covered with sheets from a mathematics textbook.
Sophia recalled: “These sheets, covered with strange, incomprehensible formulas, soon attracted my attention. I remember how, as a child, I spent whole hours in front of this mysterious wall, trying to make out at least individual phrases and find the order in which the sheets should follow each other.”
The girl considered these signs magical and tried to unravel their meaning. She loved solitude and stayed away from her lively sister Anna and brother Fedya. The brownie, whom she saw with her own eyes, became her friend. Sophia believed that her “great-grandmother’s gypsy eye” allowed her to see what was hidden from others.
Her uncle Pyotr Vasilyevich helped Sophia unravel the meaning of the secret signs on the wall:
“My love for mathematics manifested itself under the influence of my uncle Pyotr Vasilyevich Korvin-Krukovsky... from him I first heard about some mathematical concepts that made a particularly strong impression on me. My uncle spoke about the squaring of the circle, about asymptotes - straight lines, to which the curve gradually approaches without ever reaching them, and about many other things completely incomprehensible to me, which, nevertheless, seemed to me something mysterious and at the same time especially attractive,” she recalled.
And another photo of the house
Young Sophia's talent for science was noticed immediately; at the age of 15, she received permission to listen to lectures by mathematician I.M. Sechenov and study astronomy with Professor V.L. Gruber at the Military Medical Academy.
Sophia's relatives understood that the prediction was coming true.
When Sophia's mother was pregnant, Fyodor Schubert appeared to her in a dream and cheerfully said, “You will have a mathematician. My business will continue." When the girl Sophia was born, the mother considered the dream empty; she was afraid to even think that her daughter would join the “ugly women” who spent their entire lives “hunched over books.”
It should be noted that Sophia did not resemble the blue stocking stereotype.
Vladimir Kovalevsky, being Sophia’s fiancé, wrote to his brother: “Despite her 18 years, the “sparrow” is educated, excellent, knows all languages as if she were her own, and is still studying mainly mathematics. Works like; ant, from morning to night, and for all that she is alive, sweet and very pretty.”
Kovalevsky was 8 years older than Sophia.
Sophia wanted to continue her studies abroad, but according to the rules of the 19th century, she could only travel around Europe with relatives or her husband. Sister Anna advised her on a fictitious marriage that would help her achieve her plans.
“Sofia’s premature development was greatly influenced by the precocious and lively Anyuta, who was seven years older than her,” recalled Sophia’s friend.
In the mid-19th century, clubs spread in Russia where girls could meet future fictitious husbands in order to quickly begin their independent lives. Usually the grooms were from worthy families, and the parents of the young ladies had no reason to refuse. Seeing Sophia, Kovalevsky said that he was ready to get married even now.
Young scientist Kovalevskaya
According to the memoirs of Sophia’s friend: “She made a peculiar impression with her childish appearance, which earned her the affectionate nickname “little sparrow.” She was already 18 years old, but she seemed much younger. Small in stature, thin, but rather plump in face, with short-cropped curly chestnut-colored hair, with an unusually expressive and moving face, with eyes that were constantly changing expression, sometimes shining and sparkling, sometimes deeply dreamy, she was an original mixture of childish naivety with with the deep power of thought... she did not pay the slightest attention to her appearance and her dress, which was distinguished by its extraordinary simplicity, with an admixture of some disorder that did not leave her all her life.”
In 1869, Sophia and her husband went to the German city of Heidelberg, where they received permission to study at the university. The news quickly spread throughout the city. The townspeople, meeting Sophia on the street, looked at her with interest and told their children “The only learned woman!”
There were many talented women scientists in Europe, but it was Sophia who received such an honor. It was rumored that her “gypsy blood” helped her exert a magical influence on people and achieve what they wanted.
Sophia wrote poems that reflect her mysterious nature.
Have you ever been indifferent?
Walking aimlessly among the crowd
And suddenly some passionate song
Do you accidentally hear sounds?
An unexpected wave hits you
The memory of previous years smelled
And something sweet and dear
The soul responded in response.
It seemed to you that these sounds
As a child, you heard more than once,
So much happiness, bliss, torment
They were remembered for you.
You were in a hurry with your usual hearing
I can catch a familiar tune,
I wanted you behind every sound,
Follow every word.
Suddenly the song stopped
And the voice died away without a trace.
And without end and without beginning
The song remains forever.
How hateful it seemed
At that moment there is silence all around you.
It’s as if I was cut off with pain
There is a responsive string in my soul!
And how annoying and annoying
The song accompanied you all the time;
How is your hearing, disobedient to your will?
I repeated it to you forever!
The fictitious marriage with her husband gradually became real.
Sophia turned out to be a romantic person who dedicated poems to her husband and was very jealous of the ladies who preached “free love.” “Jealousy was one of the most powerful shortcomings of Kovalevskaya’s impetuous nature,” contemporaries noted.
The romantic “Sofya wanted her husband to constantly swear his love to her and show signs of attention, but Vladimir Kovalevsky did not do this,” which led to quarrels. The husband in return was jealous of Sophia’s science, wanting more reciprocal attention from his wife.
Vladimir Kovalevsky was a talented biologist who tried to engage in commerce to provide his wife with a decent life.
The gift of a fortuneteller helped Sophia restrain her husband from taking wrong steps. She often had terrible dreams, after which she persuaded her husband to leave commerce forever.
Envious women, watching the life of the Kovalevsky spouses, whispered: “She could not buy herself a dress, could not look after her things, could not find a way in the city... she was so impractical that all the small worries of life seemed unbearable to her,” “her husband follows her like a nanny”, “Kovalevskaya is poorly dressed as always.”
In 1870, 20-year-old Kovalevskaya went to Berlin to continue her studies at the University of Berlin, where she received a refusal: “A woman cannot be a legitimate student at the University of Berlin.”
She turned to the great mathematician Weierstrass for help; when they met, she could not find the words and handed over her sheets of notes. After viewing the young lady’s work, the admiring scientist agreed to give Sophia private lessons.
Again, unknown forces helped the woman mathematician move forward, bypassing rules and prejudices.
German mathematician Weirstrass, who helped Sophia's career
Kovalevskaya often dreamed of her great-grandfather scientist Fyodor Schubert, these dreams helped her in her work. One day, in a dream, his great-grandfather gave Sophia the idea of \u200b\u200b“celestial mechanics” and the study of the “rings of Saturn”.
“I feel that I am destined to serve truth - science and pave the way new way women, because it means serving justice. I am very glad that I was born a woman, as this gives me the opportunity to simultaneously serve truth and justice,” wrote Kovalevskaya.
After success in Europe, Kovalevskaya returned to Russia; in 1881 she was elected a member of the Moscow Mathematical Society, but her dream of teaching at the university has not yet come true.
Kovalevskaya said about envious people: “When Pythagoras discovered his famous theorem, he sacrificed 100 bulls to the gods. Since then, all animals have been afraid of new things.”
Kovalevskaya with her daughter Sonechka
Kovalevskaya did not lose hope; Emperor Alexander II was planning reforms that were supposed to change many social rules, but the emperor was killed. His son Alexander III took a tough position, and interrogations of revolutionary-minded citizens began. Vladimir Kovalevsky, Sophia’s husband, was a member of revolutionary societies. He persuaded his wife to leave Russia so that his reputation would not harm her. Having parted with Sophia, he lost her cautionary advice in commercial matters. Horrible dream Sophia's dream came true. Kovalevsky went bankrupt from an unsuccessful deal and committed suicide by poisoning himself with chloroform, he was 40 years old.
Before his death, he wrote to his brother: “Write to Sophia that my always thought was about her and how much I was to blame for her and how I ruined her life...”.
The death of her husband became for Kovalevskaya with a strong blow, she could not eat for four days and fell ill with weakness.
Having slightly recovered from her grief, the widow went with her daughter to Berlin to visit the teacher Weierstrass, who, with the help of his Swedish colleague Mittag-Leffler, helped her get a position as a professor of mathematics at Stockholm University in 1884. Sophia is 34 years old, she is a young recognized scientist.
Swedish mathematician Mittag-Leffler, who helped Sophia get a professorship
Having received worldwide recognition, Sophia wrote: “My fame has deprived me of ordinary female happiness... Why can’t anyone love me? I could give more to my loved one than many women, why do they love the most insignificant, and only no one loves me?”
Fans and fashion " free love"didn't bring happiness.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries:
“That was precisely her misfortune, that she could not get comfortable in Stockholm, or anywhere else in the world, but she always needed new impressions for her mental activity, constantly demanded dramatic events from life...”
Fate turned out to be favorable; in the 1880s, Sophia met a relative of her late husband, Maxim Kovalevsky. He was not an elegant handsome man; the fat gentleman won over with his good nature and cheerful disposition. Sophia jokingly said about her fan, “he takes up too much space on the couch and in his thoughts.” Maxim was a world-respected sociologist who lectured in Paris, London, and Berlin. Maxim became an adherent of the Masonic lodge, about whose activities there are many legends; he was sympathetic to Sophia’s mystical views. Kovalevsky moved to Sweden, where he lectured at Stockholm University. The lovers spent the summer at Maxim's villa in Nice, but Sophia did not dare accept the marriage proposal.
Maxim Kovalevsky
In 1890 they separated, but soon became close again; Sophia celebrated the new year of 1891 with Maxim in Nice. She finally agreed to accept his proposal; the wedding was planned for the summer.
After the New Year forebodings began to pursue Kovalevskaya. One night she heard a quiet cry, remembering the legends about the brownie, she asked “For better or worse?”, but there was no answer. In the morning, obeying an unknown force, she persuaded the groom to go to Genoa, where she headed to the ancient cemetery of Santo Campo. She wandered among the graves for a long time until she stopped at one of the mourning statues. After standing in silence, Sophia suddenly said to Maxim, “One of us will not survive this year!”
Sophia during the heyday of her fame
Returning to Sweden, Sophia caught a bad cold on the way. At home in Stockholm, she fell ill, sensing the imminent end of her life. “Some kind of change has occurred in me,” she said.
The day before her death, she told Maxim that she would write the story “When There Is No More Death.” And her last words were “too much happiness.”
Sofya Vasilievna Kovalevskaya died at the height of her fame; she recently turned 41 years old. Kovalevskaya was buried in Stockholm at the Northern Cemetery, the grave was covered with flowers on the day of the funeral. The woman scientist was mourned by the whole world.
The poet Franz Lefler dedicated a poem to Kovalevskaya:
Soul of flame and doom!
Has your airship arrived?
Obedient to the call of truth?
In that starry world so often you
Flew away on the wings of thought,
Where did you go in your dreams?
I was thinking about the universe...
Goodbye! We honor you sacredly,
Leaving your ashes in the grave;
Let the Swedish land be above him
Lays on easily without being overwhelming....
Goodbye! With your glory
You, having parted with us forever,
You will live in people's memory
With other glorious minds,
As long as the wonderful starlight
It will pour from heaven to earth
And in a host of shining planets
Saturn's ring will not be eclipsed.
Maxim Kovalevsky said at the funeral: “Sofya Vasilievna! Thanks to your knowledge, your talent and your character, you have always been and will be the glory of our homeland. It is not for nothing that all of learned and literary Russia mourns you. On her behalf, I bid you farewell for the last time!”
In her poems, Sofya Kovalevskaya left instructions for talented descendants - to move forward and never give up.
| If you are in life even for a moment I felt the truth in your heart, If there is a ray of truth through darkness and doubt Your path was illuminated with a bright radiance: So that in your unchangeable decision Fate has not appointed you ahead, The memory of this sacred moment Keep it forever like a shrine in your chest. The clouds will gather in a discordant mass, It would have been better for you not to have been born, |
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Sofya Kovalevskaya is a famous Russian mathematician. She made a significant contribution to the development of mathematics and mechanics, taught a lot, and wrote several books.
In addition, this woman influenced the formation of the newest female identity and the struggle of women for their rights. Her short biography will be of interest to any thinking person.
Life story
Kovalevskaya Sofya Vasilievna (before her marriage Korvin-Krukovskaya) was born on January 15, 1850 in the Russian Empire, in Moscow. Early biography Sofia Kovalevskaya is not replete with interesting events. Little Sonya studied mathematics both at home, where the walls were covered with formulas, and in educational institutions Abroad. Her father was in military service, and her maternal ancestors were people who moved in scientific circles and made many discoveries in science and art.
The father was against the girl studying at a foreign university, but Sophia found a way out of the situation. She entered into a fictitious marriage with geologist Vladimir Kovalevsky. Ironically, the fictitious marriage grew into something more, as Vladimir fell in love... with his legal wife!
The next few years were eventful for Sophia. She studied intensely at two German universities, took Active participation in the revolutionary events that were taking place in France at that time.
Sophia's husband went bankrupt and committed suicide. After her husband’s suicide, Kovalevskaya taught in different cities of Europe. She taught in Swedish and German languages, received the title of professor of mathematics, accomplished several important scientific discoveries in this industry, wrote articles and books. Sophia was personally acquainted with the writer Dostoevsky, was fond of socialism and Marxism, and admired the courage of the populist boys and girls.
Few people know that Kovalevskaya was also an excellent writer. Her mathematical talent is great, and her literary works they sang the triumph of love and, in addition, preached utopian revolutionary ideas.
In general, Sophia’s family adhered to fairly progressive views. Her sister, Anna Jacqular, was a Russian oppositionist and journalist, as well as an active participant in revolutionary events in France, wrote books, and was a teacher. Wikipedia dedicated large articles to both Korvin-Krukovsky sisters. Kovalevskaya's brother, although he did not have the brilliant abilities of his sisters, nevertheless ardently supported the revolution in 1917.
Sofia Kovalevskaya passed away at just 41 years old. The cause of her death was pneumonia, accompanied by numerous complications. The female scientist died and was buried in Sweden, in Stockholm.
Contribution to science
Few would dare to argue that the contribution of this nineteenth-century Hypatia to science is truly invaluable. So, you should know that the main scientific specializations of Sofia Kovalevskaya are:
- Mathematics.
- Physics.
- Literature.
Sophia devoted especially much time to one of the branches of physics – mechanics. In mechanics, Kovalevskaya specialized mainly in the theory of rotation of a rigid body (around a fixed point). In short, she also contributed to the development of such branches of knowledge and science as astronomy, astrophysics and quantum theory. In addition, Sofya Kovalevskaya developed the theory celestial bodies and potential theory.
In addition, a crater on the Moon, an asteroid, an airplane and a prestigious scientific prize. Also in one of the villages near the city of Pskov there is the only Russian Federation Museum of Sofia Kovalevskaya.
Kovalevskaya did a lot to achieve universal equality - equality of men and women. This issue was especially close to Sonya's heart, as she faced severe discrimination throughout her life. life path. Nevertheless, the Russian girl was able to overcome all the hardships of life, all the resistance of the environment and break through to the scientific Olympus, managing to become the greatest scientist of her time.
Kovalevskaya’s achievements in the field of literature are also great: she wrote both herself and in collaboration in Russian, French, German and Swedish.
Sofya Kovalevskaya can rightfully be called a great mathematician, a woman who managed to change the world at the turn of the era.
It was she who laid the foundations for the emancipation of women and gender equality. In addition, Sophia significantly advanced world science, managing to accomplish several important discoveries in mathematics, astronomy and physics. She also became a model that many talented girls sought to imitate, who came into science under her influence and changed the world for the better.
Those whom Sonya taught at German, French and Swedish universities themselves became famous scientists.
It is impossible not to admit that with the death of Kovalevskaya, the world lost a noble and generous man, a brave scientist, a talented writer and a charming woman. Author: Irina Shumilova
She was born on January 3 (15), 1850, in the family of a general; at the time of the birth of her second daughter, the military man was already retired. Sophia's maiden name is Korvin-Krukovskaya.
The family was quite wealthy. Sofia Vasilievna had good genes, her maternal ancestors were scientists. Grandfather was a member. And my great-grandfather was a famous astronomer and mathematician. So you shouldn’t be surprised that Sofya Vasilievna became a famous scientist.
Before 18 summer age, Sophia lived on the Palibino estate. This estate was located near the city of Velikiye Luki. Kovalevskaya received an excellent education at home under the strict guidance of talented teachers.
In the 60s of the 19th century, various Western teachings and moralities increasingly penetrated into the world. At this time, it became fashionable to leave home and be independent.
Sophia, they say, did not have a good relationship with her parents. She was the second child in the family, her parents were expecting a boy, and she was born. Therefore, the girl did not receive enough warmth, affection and wanted to leave home.
It was harder for girls in this regard. To leave her parents' house, she had to get married. So, at the age of 18, she entered into a fictitious marriage with Vladimirov Kovalevsky.
After getting married, she begins to attend Sechenov’s lectures on natural science. Natural science, in the end, did not attract her, but her husband achieved success in this field great success, his authorship includes several famous works related to this science.
In 1869, Sophia, her husband and sister Anna, went to study abroad. Russian Empire, where they lived for about five years. During this time, the Kovalevskys' marriage ceased to be formal character. The young people developed tender feelings for each other, and were largely united by their love of science.
In 1874, Sofia Vasilievna’s training ended. The University of Gettin, where she studied, awarded her a scientific degree - Doctor of Philosophy in the field of mathematical sciences. Soon she returned to Russia.
In Russia, Kovalevskaya’s mathematical knowledge turned out to be unclaimed. Higher mathematics was not taught then, and she could only count on the work of an arithmetic teacher. It was not easy for her, and she began to engage in literary work, even writing novels.
In 1878, she had a daughter, who was named Sophia. The husband, Vladimir, was mired in debt and shot himself when his wife was 33 years old. Sofya Vasilyevna was invited to work in Stockholm to give mathematical lectures.
In Sweden, the arrival of the Russian scientist caused a lot of noise, and this event was actively written about in the press. In Scandinavia, she combined her work as a lecturer with the work of editor of a mathematical journal. The magazine found its readership throughout Europe, including Russia.
Sofya Kovalevskaya made a huge contribution to the development of mathematics not only in Russia, but throughout the world. She proved that the Cauchy problem has an analytical solution. She also solved the problem of reducing a certain class of Abelian integrals of the third rank to elliptic integrals. It was a serious success.
Scientists call the main success of Sofia Kovalevskaya in mathematics the research carried out on the problem of rotating a rigid body around a fixed point.
Sofya Vasilievna died in February 1891. On the way from Italy to Sweden, she caught a serious cold. The cold developed into pneumonia, which ended in death.
S.V. Kovalevskaya is a Russian scientist of the late 19th century. Apart from the fact that this woman was an outstanding mathematician of her time, we know offensively little about her. Sofya Vasilievna said that many highly gifted specialists, as people, are of little interest. Kovalevskaya herself is a living person with mistakes and weaknesses. In brief biographical sketch I would like to convey all the charm of her image.
Celebrity biographies always begin and end with the words: “Born...” and “Died.. Buried...”. However, Sofya Vasilievna Kovalevskaya did not recognize the canons. Let the description of her life be unconventional. She lived only 41 years (from January 3, 1850 to January 29, 1891), but the time between these dates seems to be denser matter than in other periods. How much has fit in over the years, 16 of which were in childhood! I would like to preface the biography with two bright moments of her life - two unique epigraphs.
Barricades of the Paris Commune and Sofia Kovalevskaya
A talented scientist, she sympathized with ideas french revolution. In 1871 she came to besieged Paris and helped the wounded communards. The rescue from prison of V. Jacqular, a member of the Paris Commune, the husband of her sister Anna, occurred with her participation.
18 years. First extraordinary act
In those years, a woman could receive higher education only abroad. To obtain a foreign passport, parental permission was required, but the father did not give such consent. Then Sofya Korvin-Krukovskaya formalizes a fictitious marriage with V.O. Kovalevsky and goes to Germany with him.
Increasing the natural gift...
Obviously, Sonya inherited the outstanding abilities of the Schuberts - her mother's father and grandfather. One of them was a famous mathematician, the other an equally famous astronomer, and both were academicians of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. My father's ancestors came from a noble Hungarian family, dating back to the royal family of Corvin. Portraits of parents decorated the house, literally and figuratively.
Mom, Elizaveta Fedorovna, is a talented pianist, a bright and cheerful person. She is well educated, full of social charm, and is fluent in 4 European languages.
Father, V.V. Korvin-Krukovsky, lieutenant general of artillery, knowledgeable in the sciences, especially in mathematics. But he wishes his daughters a life accepted in the philistine environment: a successful marriage, social events, trips abroad.
Sophia received a “rich” inheritance: a passion for science, a love for mathematics, music and literature.
Childhood, youth, growing up
Sophia was born in Moscow and spent her childhood on her father's estate in the present-day Pskov region. My passion for mathematics began in early childhood. In the Polibino family estate, the walls of her room were covered with sheets of Ostrogradsky’s university lectures (there wasn’t enough wallpaper). This is how the girl first became acquainted with differential calculus. Further more.
Homeschooling developed natural abilities and sparked an interest in mathematics and mechanics. While still a 16-year-old teenager, the girl left for St. Petersburg. Women's access to Russian universities was closed. For two years she took private lessons in higher mathematics, listened to Sechenov’s lectures, and studied anatomy. Who from educated people I have not heard these famous names: teacher A. N. Strannolyubsky, professor at St. Petersburg University I. M. Sechenov, teacher of anatomy at the Military Medical Academy V. L. Gruber, Western scientists Kirchhoff, Dubois-Reymond, Helmholtz, Weierstrass. They are all in different time were Kovalevskaya’s mentors, and everyone admired her talent, hard work and perseverance.
Kovalevskaya found a way to continue her studies in Europe. A fictitious marriage gave a residence permit; managed to rescue him from the house and older sister Anna. Having left for Germany in 1868 with her husband V.O. Kovalevsky, Sophia did a surprising amount in science in 6 years. She was in constant creative search.
- 1869. Study at the University of Heidelberg with professors Koenigsberger and Kirchhoff;
- 1870. Private lessons with Weierstrass (women were not admitted to the University of Berlin);
- 1871. Presentation of three works from the most difficult branches of mathematics. Publication of the first work in the German "Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mathematics". Two other articles: “On the shape of the ring of Saturn” and “On Abelian integrals” were also published in prestigious journals: “Astronomical News” and the Swedish royal “Acta Mathematica” in 1884-1885. All of the listed publications are successfully operating today and have a high impact factor;
- 1874. Return to St. Petersburg. At home, official scientific circles do not recognize her merits.
Several years of forced break from work (the birth of a daughter, a difficult relationship with her husband, his death) only increased the thirst for activity.
- 1884-1885. Receiving the title of professor at Stockholm University, heading the department of mechanics. Along the way, I had to learn Swedish.
- 1888-1889. Main work scientist "Study of the rotation of a rigid body around a fixed point" is dedicated to current problem mechanics of the 19th century.
- Published in Acta Mathematica. Awarded the Paris Academy Prize.
1890. Election as a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences.
During these same busy years, there was time for literature. Feuilletons are published in Novoye Vremya and Russkie Vedomosti. The stories are published in "Russian Thought" (1886), "Bulletin of Europe" and "Northern Bulletin" (1890). The serious drama "Vae victis" in Swedish deserves its own chapter.
"Michelangelo of Conversation"
This is how Swedish friends respectfully called Sofya Vasilievna. She did not limit her life to science. Rich imagination resulted in poetic lines. Her concern for the social order made her a publicist. An excellent psychologist, she managed to formalize her subtle observations in the form of several stories and the main book “The Struggle for Happiness.” The work also has a second title, “Two Parallel Dramas”; it was written in collaboration with the Swedish writer K. Leffler-Cayanello. It was based on a hypothesis put forward by S.V. Its essence is as follows.
Despite the predetermination of people's actions, there is always a crossroads in life. And then what happens next depends on the person himself, on which path he chooses. This is how the book is structured: the fate of the same characters is shown in two worlds - “as it was” and “as it could have been.” Underneath the hypothesis lay Poincaré's serious work on differentials. equations Simplified it looks like this. Integrals of solutions of some differential equations are curves with branches at isolated points. The phenomenon flows along this curve, but at the bifurcation point it acquires uncertainty. To select one of the two branches, an additional condition is required.
A huge place in the drama is occupied by the theme of love, which should become all-consuming. After all, it is love that gives life energy and strength - “Life is love.”
Giftedness did not bring women happiness
First of all, a woman, Sophia always sought intimate affection, but fate was not kind to her. Along with the recognition of success in science, each time there came disappointment and the collapse of hopes for a happy personal life. The birth of her daughter in 1878 coincided with a difficult period in her relationship with her husband. He died voluntarily, confused in his financial affairs. Fate gave me a meeting with another close person, a namesake, a teacher at Moscow University and European universities, Maxim Maksimovich. Always independent in decisions, she valued his opinion very much. So, at his insistence, a touching book of childhood memories was written. But he wanted to see next to him not the “goddess of mathematics on the throne,” but a caring wife. She could not quit scientific studies. And yet, this time love seems to have won... Only death turned out to be stronger. Sophia seemed to have a presentiment of something, planning to write a philosophical work “When there will be no more death.” But I didn’t have time. A common cold unexpectedly led to a quick end.
There is no prophet in his own country
The work of the Russian scientist has not lost its relevance even after a century. But Russia, as has happened more than once in history, did not recognize the genius during his lifetime. Looking through the chronology, it is easy to see that the main results of Kovalevskaya’s scientific activities became the property of foreign universities and Academies, most of all Swedish ones. Russian scientists well understood the significance of their compatriot’s work. An exception was made for her, unprecedented in Russia at the end of the 19th century - the election of a woman as a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. True, officials hastened to “correct the mistake.” She was constantly eager to return home from Germany and Sweden. Returning to St. Petersburg, she, as a corresponding member. wished to attend the meeting, hoping to be elected a member of the Academy of Sciences. The answer sobered up Sofya Vasilievna and reminded her of the country in which she was born: “the presence of women at meetings is not in the customs of the Academy.” The insult reached its goal, Kovalevskaya returned to Stockholm.
S.V. Kovalevskaya died in Stockholm from pneumonia at the age of 41.
Sofia Kovalevskaya's immortal contribution to science
A complete list of works cannot be contained in this short essay. Here are the main ones that have not lost their relevance more than a century later (for example, the Cauchy-Kovalevskaya theorem is used in the majorization method).
First works. Sophia is 24 years old:
- "Towards the theory of partial differential equations"
- "Additions and comments to Laplace's study on the shape of Saturn's ring"
- "On the reduction of one class of Abelian integrals of the third rank to elliptic integrals"
At Stockholm University. Sophia is 38 years old:
· "The problem of the rotation of a rigid body around a fixed point." After the work of Euler and Lagrange, this work advanced the solution of the problem for the first time.
- In the "Mathematical Collection", vol. XVI, 1891, abstracts by N. E. Zhukovsky, P. A. Nekrasov and A. G. Stoletov were published, dedicated to the mathematical works of the Russian scientist.
Monuments to S.V. Kovalevskaya
The best monument to Kovalevskaya, according to Russian scientists, would be the publication of her works in Russian.
- In the year of the 50th anniversary of his death (1940), a collection appeared with translations of the main works under common name"On the rotation of a rigid body", edited by S. A. Chaplygin and N. I. Mertsalov.
- Kovalevskaya S.V. Scientific works. USSR Academy of Sciences, 1948. - 370 p.
- Kovalevskaya S.V. Memories. Stories. Science, 1974.
The year 2000 was declared by UNESCO as the year of Sofia Kovalevskaya. Her memory is immortalized in Sweden and at home, in Russia. This is the Kovalevskaya museum-estate in Polibino, a monument on Kovalevskaya’s grave (it was installed in 1896 with funds raised by the Committee of the Higher Women’s Courses and other women’s organizations in Russia).
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