1896-1982

Born in Bogorodsk, Russia, in 1896, Alexandrov and his family moved to Smolensk State Hospital one year later, where his father became a well-known surgeon. Alexandrov's studies took him to the University of Moscow, where he became known as the leader of the Soviet topologists. During his amazing career, Alexandrov published some 300 scientific papers on topology and homology. Among the many honors awarded him were: president of the Moscow Mathematical Society; vice president of the International Congress of Mathematicians; memberships in the Academies of Science in eight different countries (including the American Philosophical Society); and numerous Soviet awards such as the Stalin Prize and Five Orders of Lenin. He died in Moscow in 1982.