Editing Mikhail Lomonosov (section)

=== Education abroad ===
The University of Marburg was among Europe's most important universities in the mid-18th century due to the presence of the philosopher [[Christian Wolff (philosopher)|Christian Wolff]], a prominent figure of the German [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]]. Lomonosov became one of Wolff's students while at Marburg from November 1736 to July 1739. Both philosophically and as a science administrator, this connection would be the most influential of Lomonosov's life. In 1739–1740 he studied mineralogy, mining, and metallurgy with Bergrat Henckel in his Freiberg laboratory; there, too, he intensified his studies of German literature.{{sfn|Menshutkin|1952|p=}}

[[File:Lomonosov Poltava 1762 1764.jpg|thumb|The most grandiose of Lomonosov's mosaics depicts the [[Battle of Poltava]].]]
Lomonosov quickly mastered the German language, and in addition to philosophy, seriously studied [[chemistry]], discovered the works of 17th century Irish theologian and natural philosopher [[Robert Boyle]], and even began writing poetry. He also developed an interest in German literature. He is said to have especially admired [[Johann Christian Günther|Günther]]. His "Ode on the Taking of [[Khotin]] from the Turks," composed in 1739 - modelled after Günther's poem "Eugen ist fort. Ihr Musen, nach!", 1718, celebrating the taking of [[Belgrade]] from the Turks - , attracted a great deal of attention in Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Menshutkin|1952|p=}} 

Contrary to his adoration for Wolff, Lomonosov had fierce disputes with Henckel over the training and education courses he and his two compatriot students were getting in Freiberg, as well as over very limited financial support which Henckel was instructed to provide to the Russians after numerous debts they had accumulated in Marburg. As the result, Lomonosov left Freiberg without permission and wandered for quite a while over Germany and Holland, unsuccessfully trying to obtain permission from Russian envoys to return to the St. Petersburg Academy.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

During his residence in Marburg, Lomonosov boarded with Catharina Zilch, a brewer's widow.<ref>Pavlova, Galina E., and Fedorov, Aleksandr S. ''Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov: His Life and Work (English Translation).'' Mir: Moscow, 1980.</ref> He fell in love with Catharina's daughter Elizabeth Christine Zilch. They were married in June 1740.<ref>Pavlova, Galina E., and Fedorov, Aleksandr S. ''Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov: His Life and Work (English Translation).'' Mir: Moscow, 1980. {{ISBN|0-8285-2895-0}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8285-2895-5}}</ref> Lomonosov found it extremely difficult to maintain his growing family on the scanty and irregular allowance granted him by the [[Russian Academy of Sciences]]. As his circumstances became desperate, he got permission to return to Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Menshutkin|1952|p=}}