How was aspirin invented? Aspirin is an invention of German chemists. Who invented aspirin

Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is a derivative of salicylic acid. It is a mild non-narcotic analgesic, helping with headaches, muscle and joint pain. Aspirin works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, substances necessary for blood clotting, which also increase the sensitivity of nerve endings to pain.

The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, lived approximately between 460 and 377 BC. He left historical records of pain relief, including the use of powdered willow bark and leaves to relieve headaches and fevers.

By 1829, scientists discovered that the active principle of the willow drug was the substance salicin, which has analgesic properties.

Here is a quote from the article “The Miracle Cure” written by Sophie Jourdi for the Royal Society of Chemistry: “Shortly before the active ingredient of willow bark was isolated, in 1828 Johann Büchner, professor of pharmacy at the University of Munich, obtained a small amount of a bitter yellow substance in the form needle-shaped crystals, which he named salicin. Two Italians, Brunatelli and Fontana, actually already obtained salicin in 1826, but in a very crude form. In 1829, the French chemist Henri Leroux improved the extraction procedure and obtained up to 30 g of the substance from 1.5. kg of bark. In 1838, the Italian chemist Raffaele Piria, then working at the Sorbonne in Paris, separated salicin into a sugar and an aromatic component (salicylic aldehyde). Piria converted this component by hydrolysis and oxidation into an acid that crystallized in the form of colorless needles, which he called salicylic. acid."

So, Henri Leroux was the first to isolate salicin in crystalline form, and Raffaele Piria managed to obtain salicylic acid in its pure form.

The problem was that salicylic acid had a negative effect on the stomach, and it was necessary to find a way to “buffer” the compound. The first person to do this was a French chemist named Charles Frederic Gerhardt. In 1853, Gerhardt neutralized salicylic acid with sodium (sodium salicylate) and acetyl chloride to form acetylsalicylic acid. Gerhardt's product worked, but he did not want to sell it and abandoned his discovery.

In 1899, German chemist Felix Hoffmann, working for the German company Bayer, rediscovered Gerhardt's formula. Felix Hoffmann gave the drug to his father, who suffered from arthritis. The good results of Felix Hoffmann then convinced Bayer to enter the market with a new wonderful drug. Aspirin was patented on February 27, 1900.

Employees of the Bayer company came up with the name "Aspirin", derived from the "A" in acetyl chloride, "spir" from Spiraea ulmaria(the plant from which salicylic acid was isolated), and "in" is a common ending for drug names.

Aspirin was first sold in powder form. In 1915, the first aspirin tablets appeared. Interestingly, Aspirin and Heroin were once trademarks owned by Bayer. After Germany lost World War I, Bayer was forced to give up both trademarks as part of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Perhaps the most widely used medicine in the history of mankind is aspirin. The German pharmaceutical giant Bayer, which launched a new product on the market in 1899, did not disclose the name of its creator for a long time. And when he opened it, he revealed a heart-warming story about an unfortunate chemist-genius who created aspirin in an attempt to save his father.

In 1763, the English priest Edward Stone discovered that a decoction of crushed willow bark was an excellent remedy for fever. Stone's research was continued by European chemists who synthesized salicin crystals from the bark. Later it was possible to obtain salicylic acid. But acetylsalicylic acid, which is similar in structure, turned out to be too tough for chemists. The Frenchman Charles Gerard was able to synthesize it in 1853, but was unable to make it safe for the human stomach and abandoned experiments.

Breakthrough in biochemistry

The medical need for a chemical analogue of crushed bark only increased. In 1899, a new drug appeared under the brand name Aspirin.

It was the same acetylsalicylic acid. It is said that the trade name of the drug came from the name of Saint Aspirinus, to whom they prayed to relieve headaches. According to another version, this is an abbreviation for the German name for acetylsalicylic acid - Acetylspirsaure.

Aspirin was released by the company Bayer, which dealt with paints, household chemicals and pharmaceuticals. With the release of aspirin, the company published a catalog of its drugs and sent it free of charge to 30 thousand doctors in Europe.

The drug was sold in millions of packages, and already in 1915 it could be bought without a prescription. By 1977, aspirin was included in the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. Today, humanity takes over 80 billion aspirin tablets every year.

The discovery of aspirin was a major breakthrough in the field of biochemistry. The scientific world wanted to know who was the first to obtain acetylsalicylic acid. In 1934, the official history of Bayer was published, from which the name of the creator of aspirin became known. According to the official version, unable to look at the torment of his rheumatic father, in August 1897, aspirin was secretly synthesized by Waygar employee Felix Hoffman. After testing on animals, Hoffman proposed his invention to the company's management. But in Wayne they reacted to his idea without enthusiasm. Then Hoffman tested it on his father. The old man felt better, but his stomach remained unharmed.

Forgotten genius

The legislation did not allow registering a patent for a chemical compound. But no one forbade registering the trademark to which the formula belonged. And such a brand - “Aspirin” - was soon created.

In addition to aspirin, Hoffman created another revolutionary drug in 1898. We are talking about a cough medicine based on diacetylmorphine. It was believed that, unlike morphine and opium, it was not addictive and its results were impressive. Wayne called the drug Negot. Only years later it became clear that heroin is converted in the liver into the same morphine. And in 1931, the company was forced to stop producing heroin.

However, decades later, a professor from Glasgow, Walter Snider, having studied the documents, came to the conclusion that it was not Hoffman who synthesized aspirin first, but another Berg employee, Arthur Eichengrün.

He initiated the idea of ​​​​creating aspirin in the mid-90s of the 19th century. His boss, Heinrich Dreser, believed that such developments were futile, because the drug caused complications on the heart. But Eichengrün not only synthesized aspirin, but also tested it on himself. The head of the company, Karl Duisberg, instructed other employees to synthesize aspirin based on Eichengrün’s documentation. This is exactly what Felix Hoffman did in August 1897.

But why then didn’t the Bayer company glorify Eichengrün? It turned out that the middle-aged scientist was thinking about leaving the company. Therefore, it was considered unreasonable to give him the laurels of the father of the invention in Wayne. And after the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, the Jew Eichengrün could not be considered a genius at all. It was then, in 1934, that the world was fed the myth of the Aryan genius Hoffman.

Eichengrün left Warren in 1908, founding his own company, and became a millionaire. But everything collapsed after 1933. Although the Wawer concern tried to protect its employees from the concentration camp, Eichengrün still ended up there in 1944. The 77-year-old chemist was released in May 1945 by Red Army soldiers. In 1949, he described the true history of aspirin in the journal Pharmazie. However, the article went unnoticed, and two weeks after its publication, Eichengrün died.

Among widely used medicines, Aspirin is in great demand. People use this drug for medicinal purposes for various diseases, sometimes opposite to each other. What qualities does this medicine have?

Therapeutic properties of Aspirin

The properties of aspirin are very multifaceted. It is not without reason that this drug is taken by people suffering from the following ailments:

• heart disease;
• manifestations of migraine;
• rheumatism;
• cold infections.

Acetylsalicylic acid has a unique effect on the body. Its structure actively suppresses the activity of cyclooxygenase enzymes, which are involved in the formation of inflammatory centers (prostaglandins).

Timely administration of this drug reduces the energy reserves of the processes, against the background of which the latter begin to attenuate. This therapeutic effect is very important in situations related to the development of rheumatic diseases in the body.

The main component of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. Its properties are aimed at eliminating the source of pain and lowering body temperature. Analgesic and antipyretic effects arise as a result of the inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid on central areas in the brain.

Against this background, pain sensitivity disappears and thermoregulatory processes are normalized. Based on this, patients with high fever are given a tablet of the described medicine.

Aspirin tends to influence the activity of blood platelets. This medicine reduces the ability of blood to stick together, which reduces the likelihood of blood clots. As a result, the blood becomes more diluted, and the vascular lumens increase.

This has a positive effect on the general condition of the body, given the increased level of intracranial pressure.

Among other things, the therapeutic effect of Aspirin is directed

• to eliminate headaches;
• to reduce the risk of thrombosis;
• prevention of heart attacks;
• reducing the likelihood of strokes.

For all its versatility, Aspirin is recommended to be taken in doses and when necessary.

Effect on the body

The benefits of using Aspirin for medicinal purposes are noticeable to the naked eye.

It has the following properties

• antiplatelet;
• antirheumatic;
• antipyretics;
• anti-inflammatory;
• painkillers.

This cardiac medication is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance. Penetrating into the body, the active compound of Aspirin eliminates the processes of synthesis of prostaglandins with thromboxanes in an irreversible way.

The antipyretic effect of taking the described tablets is achieved by normalizing thermoregulatory processes controlled by brain cells. The analgesic effect begins with the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on inflammatory mediators located in the central nervous system.

Once in the blood, the active compounds of the drug prevent platelet clotting, resulting in a decrease in blood viscosity. And the blood vessel also expands.

Anti-inflammatory properties are produced due to a decrease in permeability of small capillaries located in the painful area. Against this background, the formation of inflammatory agents stops, which limits access to cellular energy reservoirs.

From all of the above we can conclude that the pharmacological effect is very multifaceted and effective.

Who is the drug prescribed for?

Aspirin tablets have the following indications for use:

1. Circulatory disorders in brain cells.

The described medicine helps reduce the risk of circulatory disorders that feed brain cells during ischemia.

1. Manifestations of myocarditis.

Regardless of the nature of the origin of myocarditis (allergic or infectious), acetylsalicylic acid copes with the disease.

1. Increase in body temperature.

Damage to the body by infectious and inflammatory diseases is accompanied by an increase in temperature, which the described tablets can reduce.

1. Different degrees of rheumatism.

Acetylsalicylic acid is effective for rheumatoid arthritis with manifestations of rheumatism.

1. Painful sensations in the head.

With the help of acetylsalicylic acid, it is possible to rid the body of various headaches associated with neuralgia or myalgia.

1. Formation of blood clots.

Aspirin prevents blood from thickening and the formation of emboli with blood clots inside it.

1. Prevention of heart attacks.

This drug is an excellent prophylactic against myocardial infarction.

Aspirin should be taken as prescribed by a doctor or based on the instructions. For each disease, a specific dose of medication and frequency of administration have been developed.

For adults, a therapeutic dose of the drug in one dose is considered to be from 40 mg to 1 g. In some cases, up to 6 tablets of medication are taken per 24 hours during the day. This should be done on a full stomach, since acetylsalicylic acid can have a detrimental effect on its mucous membrane.

If you take these tablets without a doctor’s prescription, the duration of the treatment course should not be more than a week until the analgesic effect is achieved.

Contraindications to the use of Aspirin

Contraindications to the use of these tablets for medicinal purposes are

• renal failure;
• severe liver disease;
• lactation period;
• pregnancy;
• aortic aneurysm of dissecting type;
• portal type hypertension;
• hemophilia condition;
• lack of vitamin K;
• low platelet count;
• allergic reactions to the composition of the drug;
• internal bleeding in the digestive organs;
• ulcers in the intestines and stomach.

With great caution, this medicine is used to treat people with symptoms of gout. Before using the described medication for treatment, you must consult a doctor or familiarize yourself with the contraindications to the drug.

Methods for taking Aspirin

This medication should be taken in certain doses prescribed by the doctor or taken from the instructions. This will save a person’s health from harm that can be caused by an incorrectly taken medication.

When treating with Aspirin, you should not get carried away with drinking alcohol. This can provoke the development of attacks of bronchial asthma or bronchospasms.

Drink Aspirin with a small amount of water or milk after meals. If necessary, the tablet is divided into shares or drunk completely. High body temperature requires simultaneous administration of not just one tablet, but 2 or more. It is not recommended to take more than 3000 milligrams of acetylsalicylic acid per day (no more than 6 tablets).

The history of the drug Aspirin® is one of the longest and most beautiful in pharmacology. Even 2500–3500 years ago, in ancient Egypt and Rome, the healing properties of willow bark, a natural source of salicylates, as an antipyretic and analgesic were known. Papyri dating back to the 2nd millennium BC, found by the German Egyptologist Georg Ebers among 877 other medical recipes, describe recommendations for the use of myrtle leaves (also containing salicylic acid) for rheumatic pain and sciatica. About a thousand years later, the father of medicine, Hippocrates, in his instructions recommended the use of willow bark in the form of a decoction for fever and labor pains. In the middle of the 18th century. The Reverend Edmund Stone, a rural vicar of Oxfordshire, presented a report on the cure of fever with willow bark to the President of the Royal Society of London. Often, for pain relief, a decoction of willow bark was used in combination with poppy tincture (which is not a modern combination drug). It was used in this form until the middle of the 19th century, when the development of chemistry made it possible to begin serious research into the composition of medicines from plant materials.

Thus, in 1828, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Munich Johann Büchner isolated an active substance from willow bark - a bitter-tasting glycoside, which he named salicin (from the Latin Salix - willow). The substance had an antipyretic effect and, upon hydrolysis, produced glucose and salicylic alcohol.

In 1829, the French pharmacist Henri Leroy hydrolyzed salicylic alcohol. In 1838, the Italian chemist Rafael Piria divided salicin into two parts, revealing that its acidic component had medicinal properties. In fact, this was the first purification of the substance for the further development of the drug Aspirin®.

In 1859, chemistry professor Hermann Kolbe of the University of Marburg discovered the chemical structure of salicylic acid, which led to the opening of the first factory for its production in Dresden in 1874.

However, all therapeutic agents from willow bark existing at that time had a very serious side effect - they caused severe abdominal pain and nausea.

In 1853, the French chemist Charles Frederic Gerard, through experiments, found a method for acetylation of salicylic acid, but did not complete the work. And in 1875, sodium salicylate was used to treat rheumatism and as an antipyretic. Soon its glucosuric effect was established, and salicin began to be prescribed for gout.

The enormous popularity of sodium salicylate prompted the German chemist Felix Hoffmann, who worked at the Bayer company, to continue the research of S.F. in 1897. Gerard. In collaboration with his supervisor Heinrich Dreser, based on the work of the French chemist, he developed a new method for obtaining the acetylated form of salicylic acid - acetylsalicylic acid, which had the same therapeutic properties, but was much better tolerated by patients. This discovery can well be called the foundation for the creation of the drug ASPIRIN®.

The story goes that F. Hoffmann's father, a Württemberg manufacturer, suffered from rheumatic pain and could not move. To reduce the severity of the pain syndrome, doctors prescribed him sodium salicylate, but after each administration of this drug, Hoffman Sr. began vomiting. In this regard, Hoffman Jr., on his own initiative, began working to improve the natural substance - salicylic acid.

As follows from the laboratory diary, on August 10, 1897, F. Hoffman became the first chemist on the globe who managed to obtain salicylic acid in an absolutely chemically pure and stable form by acetylation. As was established by F. Hoffman, acetylsalicylic acid could be stored for a long time without losing its therapeutic activity.

To assess the safety of the resulting drug, the first preclinical experimental studies in animals were carried out in world history. Thus, the study of the pharmacological properties of the drug ASPIRIN® became the beginning of clinical studies of drugs, which from the end of the twentieth century. have become the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine.

The studies were completed successfully - the good anti-inflammatory activity of the drug was proven and it was recommended for therapeutic use. March 6, 1899, when the new drug was patented by the Kaiser Patent Office, marked the birthday of the drug ASPIRIN®. The trade name is based on the Latin name of the plant - a species of willow meadowsweet (Spiraea), from which salicylates were obtained for the production of the drug. On February 27, 1900, F. Hoffman received a patent for his invention of acetylsalicylic acid in the USA.

We can name just a few currently actively used drugs, the creators of which can be proud of a long history of their use in clinical practice. But without exaggeration, it should be noted that none of the peers of the drug ASPIRIN® can boast of such widespread use and such increased interest of pharmacologists in the study of its properties. Every year, about 4 thousand articles on experimental and clinical studies of acetylsalicylic acid and the drug ASPIRIN® are published in scientific medical journals around the world.

The history of this drug in the 20th century. full of facts with the word “for the first time”:

1900 - the world's first tablet form of the drug ASPIRIN®, containing 500 mg of acetylsalicylic acid, was launched onto the market. Before this date, the product was produced only in powder form, which caused inconvenience both when selling it in pharmacies and when administered orally. The new form became one of the first standardly dosed medicines in the world.

1911 - the Bayer company, through the mass media, officially warned the public about the appearance on the market of the counterfeit drug ASPIRIN®.

1914 - information about the favorable results of using the drug ASPIRIN® over the previous few years was sent to 30 thousand practicing doctors. This was the first marketing campaign of this magnitude in the history of the pharmaceutical industry.

1925 - ASPIRIN® saved many lives during a widespread influenza epidemic in Europe.

1950 - ASPIRIN® is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest-selling analgesic.

1961 - ASPIRIN+C®, effervescent tablets of acetylsalicylic acid with vitamin C, was released. However, this dosage form was not created for the purpose of ease of taking the drug, as many believe. Effervescent tablets contain a special buffer, which significantly reduces the severity of the irritant effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the gastric mucosa. The latter ensures much better tolerability of the drug and reduces the frequency and severity of unwanted side reactions from the digestive tract. In addition, the drug in the form of effervescent tablets begins to act noticeably faster, which saves about 15 minutes in prolonged pain syndromes for the patient each time they are taken.

1969 - a package with the drug ASPIRIN® is sent to the Moon as part of the first aid kit of American astronaut Neil Armstrong on board the Apollo 11 spacecraft.

June 23, 1971 - John Wayne, professor of pharmacology, publishes his research on the mechanism of action of acetylsalicylic acid, “Inhibition of Prostaglandin Synthesis as a Mechanism of Action of Aspirin®-Like Drugs.”

It was thanks to acetylsalicylic acid that Professor J. Vane, who worked at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, was able to understand the diversity of prostaglandins and the role of COX isoenzymes (COX-1, COX-2) in maintaining cellular homeostasis and the pharmacodynamics of not only the drug ASPIRIN®, but also other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. J. Wayne revealed that acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2. It has become clear that long-term use of this drug in low doses can also be used to reduce the risk of thrombosis of the coronary and cerebral arteries (that is, to prevent heart attack and stroke).

1972 - The US National Academy of Sciences confirmed that acetylsalicylic acid is the best-selling OTC drug in the US.

1982 - J. Wayne was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the above research, and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain knighted him.

Since that time, the era of using the drug ASPIRIN® as an antiaggregation agent began. From 1977 to the present day, more and more data are emerging on the high effectiveness of the drug in reducing the risk of various complications associated with thrombus formation in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The chronicle of these events looks like this:

1978 - a new stage in the medical life of the drug ASPIRIN® began. The New England Journal of Medicine published a report on a Canadian cooperative study by Professor Henry J. Barnett, which found that high-dose acetylsalicylic acid reduced the risk of transient ischemic attacks and recurrent stroke with a possible fatal outcome by 31% in women and by 48% in men.

1986 - During a state visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Queen Elizabeth II of England notes during a meeting with the President that the Germans have achieved success in many areas - from music, philosophy and literature to the discovery of X-rays and mass production of the drug ASPIRIN®.

1989 - the results of a study on the effect of the drug ASPIRIN® on the health of American doctors (Physicians’ Health Study) with the participation of about 22 thousand practicing specialists are published. According to the data presented, daily use of the drug ASPIRIN® in a low dose for a long time halved the risk of myocardial infarction and significantly reduced the risk of stroke.

1993 - a new brand of the Bayer company ASPIRIN CARDIO® 100 and 300 mg (Aspirin Protect®) enters the German market. Thanks to the unique enteric coating, the ASPIRIN CARDIO® tablet passes through the stomach entirely and dissolves in the intestines, where the active ingredients are absorbed, which helps protect the stomach from the negative effects of acetylsalicylic acid during long-term use.

1994 - the results of a meta-analysis of more than 300 studies of the drug ASPIRIN® involving 140 thousand patients were published, which became a kind of record at that time. It has been proven that if people under the age of 70 received a low dose of ASPIRIN® daily, the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases in the world would be reduced by 100 thousand people per year.

Data from experimental animal studies conducted at Boston University suggest that taking a low dose of ASPIRIN® daily may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 30–50%. Further research in this direction is currently underway.

Since 1995, with the support of Bayer, scientists from many countries around the world have been participating in the International Aspirin® Award research competition, the purpose of which is to discover new mechanisms of action and search for new ways of clinical use of the drug ASPIRIN®. Awards are given in 2 categories: "Young Researchers' Aspirin® Award" for scientists under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the study of the mechanisms of action of acetylsalicylic acid, and "Aspirin® Senior Award" - for scientists who have conducted therapeutic research and shed light on the use of this drug in certain areas of medicine. One of the results of such work was the establishment of the effect of the drug ASPIRIN® on blood glucose levels by a young Chinese scientist, which was awarded an honorary prize at the competition in 2003. This discovery brings scientists closer to understanding the mechanisms of development of insulin resistance that underlies type 2 diabetes mellitus.

On March 6, 1999, the administrative building of Bayer AG turned into the world's largest packaging of ASPIRIN®! Huge building, 120x65x19 m, with 28,000 sq. m of fabric, painted accordingly, metal frames and inflatable foil tubes were packaged into a huge package. Thus, Bayer AG celebrated the 100th anniversary of its most famous brainchild. This event is also noted in the Guinness Book of Records - the world's largest package of the drug ASPIRIN®. And a new variety of rose, bred in Germany in honor of the 100th anniversary of the drug, was named Aspirin.

Years pass... However, the entire history of the study of the medical use of this amazing drug testifies to one thing: having appeared at the end of the 19th century, ASPIRIN® became not only a necessary drug of the 20th century, but remains promising in the coming third millennium, continuing to help millions and millions people around the globe, improving their quality of life.

Over the 100 years of its active medical use, ASPIRIN® not only has not lost its relevance, but has also expanded its scope of application, changing only the release form: powder > tablets > effervescent tablets > chewable tablets > enteric-coated tablets > effervescent powder.

The drug has unique success in areas as diverse as pain management, including migraines, cold symptoms, such as fever and limb pain, and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke and thrombosis. ASPIRIN® is also at the beginning of a new round of its “career” as a means for the prevention of cancer, preeclampsia, used for type II diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, herpes, etc. Scientific interest in the drug is inexhaustible.

450 years ago, in 1557, the troops of the Spanish King Philip II defeated the army

450 years ago, in 1557, the troops of the Spanish King Philip II defeated the army of the French King Henry II at the Battle of San Quintin in Flanders. King Philip promised to build a monastery if the battle was successful. The monarch remained true to his word. This is how the famous Escorial, located near Madrid, appeared (pictured). On November 2, 1984, UNESCO recognized El Escorial as a monument of world significance. It is here that the tombs of many Spanish kings are located.
In 1675, the Greenwich Observatory was founded.
In 1759, Russian Field Marshal P. Saltykov, together with the Austrian troops of Lauden, completely defeated the Prussian army of Frederick II near Kunsdorf.
In 1792, during a popular uprising that broke out in Paris, the French monarchy was overthrown. King Louis XVI was deposed.
110 years ago, in 1897, the German chemist Felix Hofmann at the Bayer plant for the first time in the history of pharmacology synthesized chemically pure acetylsalicylic acid, now known throughout the world as aspirin.
In 1899, an order was issued by the Minister of Public Education N. Bogolepov, which allowed the instigators of student riots to be recruited as soldiers.
95 years ago, in 1912, English pilot Frank McClean became the first person in the world to fly a biplane under the supporting structures of the Tower Bridge across the Thames.
In 1921, the funeral of Alexander Blok took place. An eyewitness to what was happening, M. Sabashnikova, wrote: “He was buried on the day of the Smolensk Mother of God at the Smolensk cemetery... His face after death was unrecognizable. He looked very much like Dante.” And a few days later the newspaper “Petrogradskaya Pravda” noted: “The Stranger will grow old, the Beautiful Lady will stoop, the Fairy Tale will perish, the Kulikovo Field will grow with burdock, but the name of Blok, solemnly carried on a red shield by the working hands of “twelve” Red Guards , will enter with a sovereign step into all anthologies of our revolutionary literature."
80 years ago, in 1927, the first flight was carried out on the single-seat ANT-5 fighter, designed by P. Sukhoi’s design team under the leadership of A. Tupolev. The plane was flown by pilot M. Gromov.
70 years ago, in 1937, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks approved the regulations on military commissars in the workers' and peasants' Red Army.
In 1944, during the Great Patriotic War, the Tartu offensive operation began.
In 1966, the first American automatic station of the Lunar Orbiter series was launched into orbit on an artificial lunar satellite, which transmitted 211 television images of the lunar surface.
In 1968, a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU was published on preparations for the 100th anniversary of the birth of V.I. Lenin.
15 years ago, in 1992, the Mikhail Zoshchenko Museum opened in St. Petersburg.
In 1995, a decree of the President of the Russian Federation B. Yeltsin appeared “On holding festive events dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Demidov metallurgical plant and the 250th anniversary of the Russian samovar.”
270 years ago, the Russian painter, one of the outstanding teachers of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts A. Losenko (1737-1773), was born. Strange as it may seem, his paintings on biblical and mythological subjects, created in the classical style, seem by no means archaic today.
106 years ago, the legendary Moscow Art Theater actor Nikolai Khmelev (1901-1945) was born. On stage he played heroes full of vitality, and died very young on stage in the costume of Ivan the Terrible.
95 years ago the famous Brazilian writer Jorge Amado (1912-2001) was born.
Russian theater and film actor Andrei Krasko (1957-2006) was born 50 years ago. He is no longer with us, and many of us are haunted by the vain hope of seeing him in a new film.