Short answers, pulled from the story.
Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein was born in the village of Vikhvatinets within the Podolia Governorate of the Russian Empire. This location now exists as Ofatinți in Transnistria, Republic of Moldova, situated about northwest of Odessa on the Dniestr River.
Anton Rubinstein made his first public appearance at a charity benefit concert when he was nine years old. He traveled to Berlin with his mother and siblings in spring 1844 where he met Felix Mendelssohn and Giacomo Meyerbeer who supported his developing career.
The opening of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory followed in 1862 as the first music school in Russia under its charter from the Russian Musical Society. It drew criticism from nationalist groups like The Five because some feared the school would not be Russian enough or turn into a stronghold of routine academism.
Rubinstein stayed in America for 239 days giving 215 concerts sometimes two and three times daily in as many cities. Steinway & Sons contracted him to give 200 concerts at the rate of 200 dollars per concert payable in gold which provided financial security for the rest of his life.
Ignaz Moscheles noted that Rubinstein's features and short irrepressible hair reminded him of Beethoven while Liszt referred to Rubinstein as Van II suggesting a physical likeness. Clara Schumann wrote about his playing being too much for listeners to handle after hearing him play the Mendelssohn C minor Trio in 1857.