Boris Galerkin

Boris Grigoryevich Galerkin (Russian: Бори́с Григо́рьевич Галёркин, surname more accurately romanized as Galyorkin; March 4 [O.S. February 20, 1871] 1871 – July 12, 1945), born in Polotsk, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire, was a Jewish Soviet mathematician and an engineer.

Biography

Early days

Galerkin was born on March 4 [O.S. February 20, 1871] 1871 in Polotsk, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire, now part of Belarus, to Girsh-Shleym(Hirsh-Shleym) Galerkin and Perla Basia Galerkina. His parents owned a house in the town, but the homecraft they made did not bring enough money, so at the age of 12, Boris started working as calligrapher in the court. He had finished school in Polotsk, but still needed the exams from an additional year which granted him the right to continue education at a higher level. He passed those in Minsk in 1893, as an external student. The same year he was enrolled at the St. Petersburg Technological Institute, at the mechanics department. Due to the lack of funds Boris Grigoryevich had to combine studying at the institute with working as a draftsman and giving private lessons. In some point of his life, he married Revekka Treivas, a second niece. They did not have any children.