Aleksandr Porfiryevich Borodin (1833-1887). The illegitimate son of Prince Gedeanov of Georgia, Aleksandr Borodin trained as a medical doctor before encountering composer Mily Balakirev, who brought him into the so-called “Mighty Five” and encouraged him to write more music. Borodin, who remained in practice as a medical researcher throughout his life, composed only a few works – most of which are considered masterpieces of Russian nationalist music.