The Russian scientist Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets has what pioneering connection with the periodic table of elements?
Vassili Samarsky-Bykhovets again honoring Samarsky–Bykhovets. Vassili Samarsky-Bykhovets Vasili Evgrafovich Samarsky–Bykhovets (; November 7, 1803 – May 31, 1870) was a Russian mining engineer and the chief of Russian Mining Engineering Corps between 1845 and 1861. The mineral samarskite (samarskite-Y, samarskite-Yb and calciosamarskite), and chemical element samarium are named after him. He was the first person whose name was given to a chemical element. Samarsky–Bykhovets was born in a noble family in the Tomsk Governorate, located in the Asian part of Russia beyond the Ural Mountains. He received military engineer education at the local Mining Cadet Corps, and after graduation in 1823 served
Vassili Samarsky-Bykhovets Mining Institute and eventually became a member of the scientific council there. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1860, and in 1861 became Chairman of the Board of the Corps of Mining Engineers, and also chairman of the Commission on the Revision of the Mining Charter. He took a three-months sabbatical leave in 1862 to attend an international scientific exhibition in London, and died in 1870. Samarsky–Bykhovets was a highly decorated officer with an impeccable career list. Samarsky–Bykhovets himself was not involved in the studies of samarskite and samarium. As a mining official, he merely granted access to mineral