Lesgaft Emily Frantsevich 
(1870-22.05.1922)

Prominent Russian geographer and teacher. Nephew P.F. Lesgaft. 
Born in Petersburg, his father was a teacher of chemistry in the 2nd Cadet Corps. 
Lesgaft received his secondary education at the Wiedemann gymnasium, and then, following the advice of his uncle, entered the medical faculty of the Yuryevsky (Tartu) University. Soon, however, he realized that medicine was not his vocation and was transferred to the natural department of the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of St. Petersburg University. A large role in his development as a scientist and teacher was played by the lectures and books of Professor E.Yu. Petri. 
After graduating from university in 1892  Lesgaft taught at the Agricultural Institute in New Alexandria, and from 1894 he worked at the Main Geophysical Observatory as a physicist and taught in a number of gymnasiums and in working courses. Since 1907  he has lectured in geography at universities in St. Petersburg and taught in gymnasiums. 
Lesgaft’s work at the SSC determined the main direction of his scientific activities - marine hydrology and meteorology. It seems that the proximity of Lesgaft to the outstanding Russian scientist Yu.M. Shokalsky. 
Among the many scientific developments Lesgaft prominently occupy works on the Arctic topics. Here, the work “The State of the Ice of the Kara Sea and its Accessibility for Swimming”, published in “Notes on Hydrography”, doctoral dissertation-book “The ice of the Arctic Ocean and the sea route from Europe to Siberia”, article “Opening the White Sea according to monthly service”. 
Lesgaft entered the history not so much as a geographer-researcher, but rather as a teacher, author of numerous textbooks well-known at one time for all sections of the school geography course. His "Short Course in Physical Geography" held out 13 editions from 1903 to 1927  and remained a guide for teachers and students of higher educational institutions until the 1940s. In total, he wrote about 50 textbooks on general geography, the geography of Russia, Europe and non-European countries. Russian public education did not know another author of so many textbooks that made up a whole era in the development of education. 
The human qualities of Lesgaft were also extremely high. In the opinion of contemporaries, he “was distinguished by remarkable modesty and never advanced himself and his merits. Like all remarkable people, he always treated others condescendingly and was only demanding of himself. To the people, he was extremely benevolent. He worked in good faith, modestly and silently. As a friend and professor, he enjoyed universal respect and love”.  
Unfortunately, it so happened that the name of E.F. Lesgaft was in oblivion and does not appear in reference books and, especially, in encyclopedias. To date, many highly educated people sincerely believe that Lesgaft, the author of textbooks on geography, and Lesgaft, anatomist and teacher, whose name bears the famous Institute of Physical Culture in St. Petersburg, are one and the same person. 
Died E.F. Lesgaft in Petrograd from blood poisoning caused by a boil lip. The disease lasted only three days. He was full of strength and creative plans. It was not possible to find out anything about the burial site. 
Reefs north of Rainer Island in the archipelago of Franz Josef Land. Named by Soviet cartographers in the 1950s.