On the 20th of June 1995, we celebrate the 115th anniversary of the bi
rth of Anton Vladimirovich Dumanskii. This review covers the major eve
nts of the life and scientific activity of A.V. Dumanskii and the role
of his studies in the development of many important trends in colloid
chemistry such as the doctrine of bound water, lyophilicity of disper
se systems, electrosurface phenomena, and formation of colloidal syste
ms is demonstrated. Dumanskii's outstanding influence on the evolution
of the Russian scientific school is outlined, and the influence of hi
s ideas, theories, and methods in the further development of modern co
lloid science is shown.