Faddeev was born in Leningrad to a family of mathematicians. His father, Dmitry Faddeev, was a well-known algebraist, professor of Leningrad University and member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His mother, Vera Faddeeva, was known for her work in numerical linear algebra. Faddeev attended Leningrad University, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1956. He enrolled in physics, rather than mathematics, "to be independent of [his] father".[1] Nevertheless, he received a solid education in mathematics as well "due to the influence of V. A. Fock and V. I. Smirnov".[1] His doctoral work on scattering theory was completed in 1959 under the direction of Olga Ladyzhenskaya.[2]
3rd class (25 October 2004) – for outstanding contribution to the development of fundamental and applied domestic science and many years of fruitful activity
4th class (4 June 1999) – for outstanding contribution to the development of national science and training of highly qualified personnel in connection with the 275th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Order of Friendship (6 June 1994) – for his great personal contribution to the development of mathematical physics and training of highly qualified scientific personnel
State Prize of the Russian Federation in Science and Technology 2004 (6 June 2005), for outstanding achievement in the development of mathematical physics and in 1995 for science and technology (20 June 1995), for the monograph "Introduction to quantum gauge field theory"