Nikolay Demidov

Count Nikolai Nikitich Demidov (9 October / November 1773, Chirkovitsy, Saint Petersburg Governorate – 22 April 1828, Florence) was a Russian industrialist, collector and arts patron of the Demidov family.

The son of Nikita Akinfiyevich Demidov (1724-1786) and his third wife Alexandra Safonova, Nikolai Demidov inherited his father's industrial empire aged only 15 and began to spend so recklessly that the government had to send in the receivers. In September 1795 at Saint Petersburg he married Baroness Elisabeta Alexandrovna Stroganova (5 February 1779 - Paris, 27 March 1818). They had four children - Aleksandra Nikolaievna Demidova (19 October 1796 - 24 August 1800), Pavel Nikolaievich Demidov (1798-1840), Nikolai Nikolaievich Demidov (17 February 1799 - 24 August 1800) and Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov, 1st Prince of San Donato (1812-1869).

Nikolai entered the diplomatic service and the young couple moved to Paris, becoming ardent supporters of Napoleon I of France and setting up home in the hôtel de Brancas-Lauragais, at the corner of rue Taitbout and boulevard des Italiens. However, rising Franco-Russian tensions forced his recall and they moved back to Russia via Italy, arriving in Russia in 1812. He fought with distinction in the Russo-Turkish War (1806-1812) and at the start of the French invasion of Russia he financed the creation of an infantry regiment (including his son Pavel as one of its officers, which he then commanded against Napoleon's forces, fighting at Oravais and Borodino.

In 1813 he gave his important collections to the mineralogical museum of Moscow (founded by his uncle Pavel Grigoryevich) to replace those lost in the burning of the city, giving art to Moscow University in the same vein. He also financed the construction of 4 bridges in Saint Petersburg. With age, he also became wiser industrialist, modernising his factories' infrastructure and doubling his fortune. He gave his home over to many industries and public utility services, perfecting the exploitation of mines and raising his income to 5 million. He also acclimatised Bordeaux and Champagne vines and Lucca olive trees to the Crimea.

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