Mikhail Ostrogradsky was born on September 12 (24), 1801, in the village of Pashennaya, located in the Poltava province, into the family of landowner Vasily Ostrogradsky, who came from a noble lineage.

From a young age, Mikhail showed an interest in knowledge, particularly in natural scientific phenomena. However, studying at a boarding school under the guidance of Ivan Kotlyarevsky, the author of the famous burlesque "Eneida," did not inspire him.

At 15, Mikhail became an auditor, and a year later, a student at the physics and mathematics faculty of Kharkiv University. Three years later, he passed his candidate exams with distinction, but due to frequent absences from theology classes, local professors denied him the candidate's certificate and diploma, leaving him without a degree.

A few years later, Mikhail Vasilyevich went to Paris to continue his studies in mathematics. In Paris, he studied at the Sorbonne and the Collège de France, attending lectures by prominent scholars such as Fourier, Ampère, Poisson, and Cauchy.

In 1823, Mikhail began teaching at the Henri IV College and published a paper "On the Propagation of Waves in a Cylindrical Basin," which received positive reviews from French colleagues. Augustin Cauchy noted his insight and knowledge.

In 1828, Ostrogradsky returned to Russia with a French diploma and a reputation as a prominent scholar. Two years later, he was elected an extraordinary academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. He later became a corresponding member of the Paris Academy of Sciences, as well as a member of the American, Roman, and other academies.

From 1831 to 1862, Ostrogradsky headed the Department of Applied Mechanics at the Institute of the Corps of Engineers of Transport Communications, continuing to write scientific works. In 1838, he became a secret advisor of the 3rd rank, equivalent to the position of a minister or governor.

Mikhail was passionate about mathematical analysis, algebra, probability theory, mechanics, magnetism theory, and number theory. He developed a method for integrating rational functions and derived an important formula for converting a volume integral into a surface integral. Shortly before his death, he published a book with ideas on integrating dynamics equations.

Becoming one of the most talented mathematicians in Russia, Ostrogradsky actively engaged in pedagogical and public activities in St. Petersburg. He taught at various educational institutions and was for a long time the main observer of mathematics teaching in military schools.

Since 1832, Mikhail Vasilyevich taught higher algebra, analytical geometry, and theoretical mechanics at the Main Pedagogical Institute, contributing to the development of many well-known scholars. In the 1830s, he and his colleague Bunyakovsky taught all mathematical subjects in officer corps.

For over 30 years, until his death, Mikhail Vasilyevich remained an influential figure among Russian mathematicians and supported young educators. Mikhail Vasilyevich Ostrogradsky passed away on December 20, 1861 (January 1, 1862), at the age of 60 and was buried in his native village, as he requested.