Ignaсy Domeyko (31 July 1802 – 23 January 1889), one of the most world-known Belarusians, a participant in the liberation movement in Belarus, the national hero of Chile, a world-famous scientist, mineralogist, the Rector of the University of Chile. He left a significant mark in many areas of human knowledge, such as mineralogy, geology, chemistry, metallurgy, geography, ethnography, botanics and zoology, as well as considerably contributed to the organization of higher education system in Chile.
In 1816 Ignaсy Domeyko was admitted to the University of Vilno (Vilnius) to study mathematics and physics, where he also obtained knowledge in topography, architecture, foreign languages, history, and literature. In 1882 he defended his thesis and obtained a master’s degree in philosophy.
Ignaсy Domeyko was a participant in the national uprising of 1830-1831 in Poland, Belarus and Lithuania against the tsarist Russia. After a defeat, together with the insurgent army he crossed the Russian-Prussian border and layed down arms.
For several years he had lectured at a mining school in the town of Coquimbo, founded a meteorological station, and created an ethnographic museum. During his repeated journeys about the country he studied the geology and mineralogy of the Andes, the Atacama Desert, and the province of Auracania in southern Chile and examined the daily life of the local people, the Auracanian Indians (Mapuches), whom he described in his book.
The eager activity of Ignaсy Domeyko in Coquimbo was noticed by the scholarly community and the government of Chile: in 1847 he was invited to lecture at the University of Chile in Santiago.
In 1884 Ignaсy Domeyko managed to fulfill his old dream of visiting Belarus. His departure was honoured by his many friends and pupils, among whom were the known politicians, university faculty and students.
Ignacy Domeyko
For four years Domeyko had lived on his home estate at Zhyburtovshchina and in the meantime visited other memorable places in Belarus: Medviadka, Mir, and Kroshin. One of the last Philarets, he was welcomed everywhere with great interest; he had talks with local villagers in Belarusian, the language he did not forget despite a half-century absence. During his stay in Belarus he several times visited Paris and was once in Rome and Jerusalem.
The many-sided activity of Ignaсy Domeyko brought him a universal recognition, his scholarly legacy being of especial importance. He authored 130 scientific works. Many of his textbooks were used and are still used to teach students in Chile, Peru and Mexico. In all, his bibliography totals 4,500 titles, including monographs, articles, textbooks, manuals, letters, and reviews of his works, as well as biographical articles, essays and poetic pieces written about him.
In Belarus, a museum was founded on the former estate of our famous fellow-countryman in the village of Zapolie, Lida district. His memory is also preserved at school museums in the village of Velikaia Medviadka, Korelichi district, and Krupovo, Lida district; a street in the village of Krupovo also bears his name.
On the 200th anniversary of Domeyko’s birth, UNESCO declared the year of 2002 to be “Ignaсy Domeyko Year”. The commemorative events were held in many countries, especially those associated with his life and activities. In Belarus, numerous scholarly conferences were held, his name was attached to a number of newly-established scholarships, commemorative plaques were installed in places where he once lived. The Minsk-based publishing house, Belaruski Knigazbor, published the book of his diaries called “My Journeys”.
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