Prominent scientists and scientific schools of the University of Vilnius

The works in rhetoric and poetics by professors of the University of Vilnius were widespread in the West. Martinus Smiglecius (1564-1618) was a distinguished author of polemic theology and economic thought that gained prominence in Europe through his textbook Logic (Ingoldstadt, 1618) which was based on lectures read at the University of Vilnius in 1586-1587. This textbook was widely used until the 19th century and appreciated not only in Jesuit schools in France and at the Sorbonne, but also in Anglican Britain and even Oxford where the textbook saw several editions (1634, 1638, 1658). The textbook of rhetoric Orator extemporaneus (The Improvising Orator) by Michael Radau was published in Amsterdam in 1651, then published anew in Leipzig, London, Kraków, Bologna, Köln, Prague, Vilnius, and other places. Even more highly estimated was the textbook of rhetoric Oratorical Practice and the Rules of the Art of Rhetoric by Sigismundus Lauxminus (1597-1670) published in 1648 (14 more editions in Munich, Frankfurt, Köln, Würzburg, Prague, Vienna, etc.). Hardly less popular was the textbook of musical theory The Art and Practice of Music by Sigismundus Lauxminus which saw more than ten editions in different towns of Europe.

Albertus Koialovicius-Wijuk (1609-1677) was a professor of the University of Vilnius famous for his rhetoric talent and research in the Lithuanian history. He is considered as a one of the best and most productive historical writers of the 17th century. Among his forty publications most important is Historiae Lituanae in Latin (The History of Lithuania, the first part was published in Gdańsk in 1650, the second part was published in Antwerp in 1669) – the first full research on the history of Lithuania which remained for a long time the main source of information about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for Europe. The book was highly valued by August Ludwig von Schlözer, one of the creators of the scientific historiography.

The new sciences cultivated in the cultural and social soil of the University produced such a phenomenon as the Vilnius Astronomical School. The Jesuit Thomas Zebrovicius, who in 1753 founded the Vilnius Observatory – compared by contemporaries to the famous Greenwich Observatory – could be considered the forefather of this school. For a long time the head of the Astronomy School was the ‘royal astronomer’ Marcin Poczobutt (1728-1810), a long-standing Rector of the University of Vilnius. Poczobutt was a renowned astronomer, an associate member of the Academy of Science in Paris and a Fellow of the Royal Society in London. Under his supervision the Observatory was supplied with the most modern observation equipment of the time. Thanks to Marcin Poczobutt, astronomy was recognised as a separate university discipline. Jan Sniadecki (1756-1830) was yet another prominent astronomer and mathematician. He was the head of the Astronomical Observatory, Rector of the University of Vilnius and an associate member of the Academy of Science in St.Petersburg.

The 18th century saw the flourishing of natural sciences at the University of Vilnius. The Botanical Garden of the University of Vilnius was founded by Jean Emmanuell Gilibert (1741-1814), a Frenchman, sometimes called the father of Lithuanian botany. He was the first to research Lithuanian plants, which lead to the publication of a work in five volumes entitled Flora Lituanica. A German professor Georg Forster (1754-1794) continued the work of Jean Emmanuell Gilibert. He was a renowned scientist who had taken part in Captain James Cook’s expedition round the world. Stanisław Bonifacy Jundziłł (1761-1847) was the first to start geological investigations and to lay the foundations for botanical terminology in Lithuania.

Medical science in Lithuania is closely connected with the names of Johann Peter Frank and his son Jozef. They came to Vilnius from Vienna in 1804. Johann Peter Frank (1745-1821) made essential reforms at the Faculty of Medicine and designed a new plan of research that became a model for other universities in the tsarist Russia. In 1805 he established the first therapeutics clinic at the University. On the initiative of Jozef Frank (1771-1842), the Vilnius Medical Society was founded as well as an Out-patients’ Clinic, an Institute of Vaccination and an Institute of Motherhood. He also laid the foundations for the Museum of Pathology and Anatomy. Andrzej Śniadecki (1768–1838) was the forefather of physiology in Lithuania. He entered the history of biology with his famous treatise The Theory of Organic Beings which has been published and translated many times.

Alumnus of the University of Vilnius Ignacy Domeyko (1801-1889) after the 1831 uprising went to Chile, where he became professor at La Serena and Santiago Universities, and later the Rector of the latter. The Chilean school system was reorganised according to his project taking the Lithuanian system as an example. The mountain range (Cordillera de Domeyko), a mountain (Cerro Domeyco), a city (Puerto Domeyco), a blooming plant (Viola domeykana), and a mineral discovered by Domeyko (domeykit) are all named after him.

Since the times of the Jesuits, the University of Vilnius had distinguished itself by an especially mature and well-established tradition of humanitarian thought. At the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, a qualitatively new model of humanitarian thinking was taking shape in which an exceptional place was occupied by the science of history and its methodological principles. Joachim Lelewel (1786-1861) was the founder of the new school of historical research. Being not only a historian but also a geographer and a bibliographer, he was the first at the University of Vilnius to begin writing on the issues of the theory and methodology of history. The work started by Joachim Lelewel was continued by Ignacy Onacewicz (c. 1781-1845) who was the first at the University of Vilnius to begin delivering a course in the history of Poland and Lithuania separately from the course in world history. The most outstanding representative of economic thought was Hieronim Strojnowski (1752-1815), who founded a Department of Political Economy, the first not only in Lithuania but also throughout Europe.

A historical philosopher Feliks Koneczny (1862–1949) became one of the famous founders of the history of civilisation. The famous philosopher Władysław Tatarkiewicz (1886–1980) worked at the University for a few years and, apart from his original works in ethics, aesthetics, logic and ancient philosophy; he also researched the old manuscripts of the University library on philosophy courses. Philosopher Tadeusz Czeżowski (1889–1981), a pupil of Tadeusz Twardowski and one of the main representatives of the Lvov–Warszawa philosophical school, who became famous for his research in the field of logic and research methodology.

A historical philosopher Feliks Koneczny (1862–1949) became one of the famous founders of the history of civilisation. The famous philosopher Władysław Tatarkiewicz (1886–1980) worked at the University for a few years and, apart from his original works in ethics, aesthetics, logic and ancient philosophy; he also researched the old manuscripts of the University library on philosophy courses. Philosopher Tadeusz Czeżowski (1889–1981), a pupil of Tadeusz Twardowski and one of the main representatives of the Lvov–Warszawa philosophical school, who became famous for his research in the field of logic and research methodology.

Philosopher of European standard Vasili Sesemann (Vosylius Sezemanas,1884–1963) and cultural historian and philosopher as well as author of the monumental 5 volume History of European Culture Lev Karsavin (1882-1952) were the most prominent personalities of the University of Vilnius during the period of Stalinism. They both started working at the University in 1940 and both have suffered from the Soviet regime. In 1949, Karsavin was accused of anti-Marxism and anti-soviet activity, arrested and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. In the labour camp in Komi (USSR) he wrote a number of religious and philosophical works, and died in 1952. Sesemann was arrested in 1950 by Soviet authorities, and sentenced for 15 years to a labour camp in Siberia. After six years of deportation he was released, and was several years later allowed to teach logic at the Department of History and Philology at the University of Vilnius. Combining an intense teaching load with studies in logic and the history of philosophy, he worked until his death in 1963.

Philosopher of European standard Vasili Sesemann (Vosylius Sezemanas,1884–1963) and cultural historian and philosopher as well as author of the monumental 5 volume History of European Culture Lev Karsavin (1882-1952) were the most prominent personalities of the University of Vilnius during the period of Stalinism. They both started working at the University in 1940 and both have suffered from the Soviet regime. In 1949, Karsavin was accused of anti-Marxism and anti-soviet activity, arrested and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. In the labour camp in Komi (USSR) he wrote a number of religious and philosophical works, and died in 1952. Sesemann was arrested in 1950 by Soviet authorities, and sentenced for 15 years to a labour camp in Siberia. After six years of deportation he was released, and was several years later allowed to teach logic at the Department of History and Philology at the University of Vilnius. Combining an intense teaching load with studies in logic and the history of philosophy, he worked until his death in 1963.

Writers Balys Sruoga (1896-1947) and Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas (1893-1967) became professors of the University of Vilnius during the WWII and post-war years. Balys Sruoga wrote many dramatic works poetry during his life, but his best known work is the novel The Forest of Gods (Dievų miškas), based on his own life experiences as a prisoner in Nazi German concentration camps, where he was sent in March 1943 together with other forty-seven Lithuanian intellectuals. In 1945 he returned to Vilnius and continued teaching at Vilnius University. His novel was forbidden to be published by Soviet officials, and was ultimately published posthumously ten years after the author's death, in 1957.

Research of heart and blood vessel surgery by Professor Algimantas Marcinkevičius and his colleagues working in radiology and microsurgery during the Soviet times was called as the Soviet medical apex. In 1956 he made the first reconstructive vascular surgery, and in 1964 – the first open heart surgery with hypothermia and artificial circulation. One of the most prominent medical scientist Pranas Norkūnas (1908-1992) as well as professor Marcinkevičius, created the large school of surgeons at the University of Vilnius. Professors Vytautas Sirvydis and Giedrius Uždavinys are the most prominent cardio surgeons nowadays.

Recognition in the field of science was deservedly received by the author of the theory of probability figures, Rector Professor Jonas Kubilius and his students, in theoretical physics by Professor Adolfas Jucys and his students, in semi-conductor physics by Professor Povilas Brazdžiūnas and Professor Jurgis Viščakas. This led to the creation and development of the Vilnius University school of Laser physics headed by Professor Algis Petras Piskarskas.