Dmitri Mendeleev was born in the Russian providence of Siberia in 1834. He began studies at St. Petersburg State University at just 16, training to become a teacher. He graduated at the top of his class besides often being ill and at odds with his teachers. He earned his masters degree in 1856. Mendeleev studied in Germany briefly but gained much insight into the developing science of Chemistry at this time. He published his first book Organic Chemistry which put him at the forefront of Russian chemical education. Still a young man at age 33 he was awarded the Chair of General Chemistry at the University of St. Petersburg. It was at this time that he soared into infamy. In 1869 he published The Principles of Chemistry and it was in the same year that he came up with the concept for the periodic table.It is said that the table was organised by Mendeleev in his sleep after attempting it awake.

While Mendeleev was not the first to propose a table to organize the element, he was the first to publish it. He also predicted 8 new elements based on the gaps in the table and the atomic weights and behaviors of said elements using his own invention: The Periodic Law. The year 1905 was a prestigious one for the 70 year-old. He was awarded the Copley Metal by the British Royal Society, and was elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. This was the last hurrah of Mendeleev, for he died less than two years later of the flu.

Mendeleev left behind an impressive legacy: he is the father of modern chemistry, his table is the basis of the modern periodic table that we use today. He was recognized for his achievements while he was alive; unusual for many "greats". He was awarded many positions and awards in his lifetime. He contributed greatly to the Russian scientific community, and industry: working to research coal, and agricultural production methods. However, his legacy has depreciated over time, being out shinned by the Einsteins of the field. He was recognized as a great in the international scientific community being awarded multiple awards and positions in many nations across Europe. Mendeleev's works were translated into German, French, and English translations. His contributions cannot be over looked, he founded the system used to predict the formation of elements that we still use today.

Work Cited:

"Dmitri Mendeleev." Famous Scientists. famousscientists.org. 1 Sep. 2014. Web. 1/31/2017

Editors, Biography.com. "Dmitri Mendeleyev." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 29 Nov. 2016. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.