Z MINIONYCH CZASÓW Karol Bohdanowicz (1864–1947) – dyrektor dwóch służb geologicznych: rosyjskiej i polskiej (w 150. rocznicę urodzin)
Abstract
Karol Bohdanowicz (1864–1947) – director of the Russian and Polish geological surveys (at the 150th anniversary of his birth).
A b s t r a c t. Karol Bohdanowicz was born on December 10, 1864 in Lucyn (Polish Livonia, presently Ludza in Latvia). He studied at theMining Institute in St. Petersburg (1881–1886) gaining the diploma of mining engineer. In 1885, during student’s field work, he took part in the Urals expedition lead by F. N. Tchernyshev. In the period 1886–1901, Bohdanowicz was employed at the Department of Mining in St. Petersburg and since January 1901 as a geologist in the Geological Committee. In the years 1886–1888, he carried out geological and hydrogeological investigations at the Russian-Persian border. During next two years, he participated in an expedition to Tibet lead by M. V. Pievcov. He studied tectonics of Tian Shan and Kunlun Mts., precious stones and gold deposits at that time. In the period 1892–1894, Bohdanowicz carried out geological and hydrogeological studies and exploration of mineral raw materials deposits along the constructed trans-Siberian railway. In 1895–1898, he was a leader of the Okhotsk-Kamchatka expedition. Its main target was exploration of gold deposits between the Amur River and Okhotsk. He also studied there volcanic phenomena and glaciological problems of Kamchatka Peninsula. At the end of 1899, he visited Manchuria and Liaodong Peninsula, carrying out preliminary exploration for gold deposits. In 1900, Bohdanowicz again lead an expedition for gold in the areas of Chukchi Peninsula. At that time, he also
visited Alaska twice. In January 1913, Bohdanowicz was nominated as a vice-director and later as a director of the Geological Committee in St. Petersburg (after the death of director F. N. Tchernyshev in January 1914). His nomination for director was signed by tsar Nicholas II in January 1915. Most probable, the final nomination was delayed because of his Polish roots. He remained at this post for nearly four years, untill March 1917. Because of outbreak of the October Revolution in Russia, he decided to return in 1919 (with some difficulties) to Poland, which regained its independency. At that time, he did not come to agreement with J. Morozewicz to replace him on the post of director of the Polish Geological Institute (PGI). In the middle of 1921, he was nominated professor of applied geology of the Mining Academy in Cracow, working there untill 1935.With the strong support of military circles, Bohdanowicz was nominated for the PGI director in April 1938. He started a very active reorganization of the institute. The beginning of war in September 1939 stopped these effective efforts. After World War II, still on the post of the PGI director, he contributed significantly to its reconstruction and organization. Bohdanowicz died after long illness in Warsaw on June 5th 1947.
A b s t r a c t. Karol Bohdanowicz was born on December 10, 1864 in Lucyn (Polish Livonia, presently Ludza in Latvia). He studied at theMining Institute in St. Petersburg (1881–1886) gaining the diploma of mining engineer. In 1885, during student’s field work, he took part in the Urals expedition lead by F. N. Tchernyshev. In the period 1886–1901, Bohdanowicz was employed at the Department of Mining in St. Petersburg and since January 1901 as a geologist in the Geological Committee. In the years 1886–1888, he carried out geological and hydrogeological investigations at the Russian-Persian border. During next two years, he participated in an expedition to Tibet lead by M. V. Pievcov. He studied tectonics of Tian Shan and Kunlun Mts., precious stones and gold deposits at that time. In the period 1892–1894, Bohdanowicz carried out geological and hydrogeological studies and exploration of mineral raw materials deposits along the constructed trans-Siberian railway. In 1895–1898, he was a leader of the Okhotsk-Kamchatka expedition. Its main target was exploration of gold deposits between the Amur River and Okhotsk. He also studied there volcanic phenomena and glaciological problems of Kamchatka Peninsula. At the end of 1899, he visited Manchuria and Liaodong Peninsula, carrying out preliminary exploration for gold deposits. In 1900, Bohdanowicz again lead an expedition for gold in the areas of Chukchi Peninsula. At that time, he also
visited Alaska twice. In January 1913, Bohdanowicz was nominated as a vice-director and later as a director of the Geological Committee in St. Petersburg (after the death of director F. N. Tchernyshev in January 1914). His nomination for director was signed by tsar Nicholas II in January 1915. Most probable, the final nomination was delayed because of his Polish roots. He remained at this post for nearly four years, untill March 1917. Because of outbreak of the October Revolution in Russia, he decided to return in 1919 (with some difficulties) to Poland, which regained its independency. At that time, he did not come to agreement with J. Morozewicz to replace him on the post of director of the Polish Geological Institute (PGI). In the middle of 1921, he was nominated professor of applied geology of the Mining Academy in Cracow, working there untill 1935.With the strong support of military circles, Bohdanowicz was nominated for the PGI director in April 1938. He started a very active reorganization of the institute. The beginning of war in September 1939 stopped these effective efforts. After World War II, still on the post of the PGI director, he contributed significantly to its reconstruction and organization. Bohdanowicz died after long illness in Warsaw on June 5th 1947.