Klaus Karl

(1796-1864)
Russian inorganic chemist. Opened ruthenium, described its properties and determined the atomic weight. One of the first to use quantitative methods in comparative floristics.
Karl Karlovich Klaus (1796-1864) - Russian inorganic chemist and pharmacist, was born in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia), the family of the artist. Four years old, he lost his father, and six years - mother. There is no finishing school, he nevertheless managed to pass the exam at the pharmacist in the Petersburg Medico-Surgical Academy. Later he recalled: "I was the youngest exam pharmacist in Russia, I was not yet complete 21 years".
In 1821, Klaus married Ernestine Bate, with whom he had known in his youth, and moved with her to Kazan, where he received his superintendence in pharmacy. In Kazan, they had three daughters. Klaus was 32 years old, his family grew three children when he decided to begin studies at the University of Tartu. To support his family, he was appointed laboratory. In Dorpat had a son.
In 1835 Claus graduated from the university, and two years later defended his thesis for the degree of Master of Philosophy. He again moved to Kazan, where he was elected a university professor in the department of chemistry. Here he opens a new chemical element ruthenium, for which he receives Demidov Prize in 5000 rubles. In those days it was a lot of money. Prize successfully arrived, the family celebration - the eldest daughter married.
On its opening Klaus later wrote: "More than a year I worked on this subject, but finally an easy and sure way of getting it in a clean condition. This new metal, which I was named ruthenium in honor of our country, without a doubt belongs to the bodies of very curious. "