Nikolay Chizhevsky (Mikolaj Czyzewski) was born in Ukraine (town Gadyach) in a family of the district secretary. In 1910 he finished the Kiev gymnasium and became the student of chemical faculty of KPI where received absolyutory (i.e. he graduated from higher education institution without obtaining the diploma). Since 1914 he served in imperial army, and with 1917 in army of the Ukrainian National Republic. In 1921 he went to Poland where in Krakow in 1928 he graduated from Mountain academy and became the metallurgical engineer. Even during study he worked at this higher school, starting with the junior assistant. In 1934 he was the adjunct of academy, and in 1935 he became the associate professor after receiving degree of the doctor.
During the German occupation since 1939 he lived in Krakow as the unemployed. Only in 1940 he became the teacher of mining and metallurgical school which Germans allowed to open.
After war Nikolay Chizhevsky returned to work in Mountain academy where in 1946 he became profesor and the manager of again foundry chair at metallurgical faculty. He promoted opening in Mining and metallurgical academy of separate faculty of foundry business (1951.) Also he became its first dean. There was the head more than one hundred protection of engineering and master's theses, and, in general, was the good tutor of student's youth.
Nikolay Chizhevsky published 47 books, including 7 textbooks. He was engaged also technologies of heat and fuel, a coke chemistry and foundry production. He got the State award of the second degree for works according to the theory and practice of cupola process in 1952. In Poland he became the founder of process of water cooling of cupolas. Also he entered new methods of receiving the modified quality cast iron into foundry practice. For these works he got a collective State award of the third degree in 1951. Together with coauthors Nikolay Chizhevsky prepared two main books: "Foundry furnaces" and "Cast iron metallurgy" which were printed after death of their author.
After war Nikolay Chizhevsky resumed activity of Technical society of the Polish founders and since 1951 to death he was its chairman. Also he edited the Review of Foundry Business edition.
Nikolay Chizhevsky died in 1954 and was buried on the Rakovitsky cemetery in Krakow.