Petre Melikishvili

Petre Melikishvili (; July 11, 1850 — March 23, 1927) was a Georgian chemist. He was the co-founder of Tbilisi State University (TSU), the first rector of TSU, head of the Department of Organic Chemistry (1919-1927), corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences and professor at the University of Odessa.

Petre Melikishvili's field of interest in organic chemistry was the synthesis and properties of inorganic peroxide and acids; in inorganic chemistry - the chemistry of glycolic acids and acrylic acids. He also studied meteorite compositions and agricultural issues.

Family

Petre Melikishvili's ancestors moved from Adjara to Akhaltsikhe in the 16th century. His parents moved from Akhaltsikhe (Meskheti) to Tbilisi in the 1840s. They settled in the house at 36 Vasil Bebutov Street (now 44 Lado Asatiani Street).

Father Grigol Melikishvili was a public figure and actively participated in the establishment of the first private Georgian printing house in Tbilisi. He sent his eldest son to Vienna to bring printing equipments. Petre Melikishvili's older brother Stefane Melikishvili was the first editor and publisher of the newspaper Droeba. His younger brother Iosebi was also a publisher, and his sister, Sergei Meskhi's wife, Ekaterine Melikishvili-Meskhi, was a writer, translator and feminist. Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Sergey Meskhi, Niko Nikoladze and other leaders of the Georgian intelligentsia often visited the Melikishvili family.

Early years and education Petre Melikishvili was born on July 11, 1850, in Tbilisi. His grandmother taught him to read and write. At the age of ten he was sent to the gymnasium, where he was taught by Nikoloz Ghoghoberidze. Petre Melikishvili graduated from the gymnasium with honors in 1868 and under the influence of Besarion Ghoghoberidze chose to study natural sciences. Petre Melikishvili decided to continue his studies in Moscow or St. Petersburg, but due to poor health, doctors prevented him from continuing his studies in Russia. In 1869 he left for Ukraine and enrolled in the Department of Natural Sciences of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Odessa. Vasil Petriashvili (later the rector of Odessa University) also studied in the last year of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, with whom Petre Melikishvili soon became friends. In 1875 he published two papers in the field of physical chemistry.

Petre Melikishvili laid the foundation for the creation of chemical terminology in the Georgian language, which was later developed by his students Nino Tsitsishvili and Rusudan Nikoladze.

Meteorites and agrochemistry

In the 1890s, Petre Melikishvili became interested in the nature of meteorites. He studied meteorites which fell in different places, including: Tsmeti, Zabrod, Migey, Vakulov and others. After chemical research of meteorites, it was concluded that they contain the same chemical elements as the Earth. The Migay meteorite differed from others in that it contained coal, sulfur, phosphorus, and organic compounds, namely higher hydrocarbons.

Petre Melikishvili also studied minerals and agricultural products. His field of research included: wine, cheese, tea, etc. As a result of chemical analysis of wine and wheat, he concluded that the quality of these products is influenced by climatic conditions and time. after researching Chakvi tea with M. Rosenblatt, he found that the subtropical climate and soil in western Georgia were suitable for tea plantation cultivation. Petre Melikishvili gave lectures and set up laboratories at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. In 1918, he founded the Department of Chemistry, which he headed, and then it was divided into two departments, the Department of Inorganic Chemistry (headed by Jason Moseshvili) and the Department of Organic Chemistry, which he headed. however, he continued to work in the Department of Organic Chemistry and headed the newly established Faculty of Agriculture of the university.

Death and inheritance

Petre Melikishvili was a lonely man. He avoided political activities, including administrative positions.

Petre Melikishvili died on March 23, 1927, at the age of 77. He is buried in the yard of Tbilisi State University. Petre Melikishvili was the first professor to be buried in the university yard. A year later, a monument created by Iakob Nikoladze was erected in the Pantheon.

The Petre Melikishvili Prize exists at the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. There is a scholarship, an auditorium and a cabinet-library named after him at Tbilisi State University. The first rector's desk and personal belongings are kept in the University Museum. The original photos of Petre Melikishvili's personal fund are kept in the Odessa regional archive. Electronic versions are kept in the Museum of Tbilisi State University.

Petre Melikishvili Street is located in Tbilisi. Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry is named after him.

Organizations and associations Tbilisi State University, Founder, Rector (1918-1919) Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Corresponding Member (1927-) Georgian Scientific School of Chemistry, founder

Awards Mikhail Lomonosov Gold Medal (1899)