Sergei Grigoriyevich Stroganov

Count Sergei Grigoryevich Stroganov (Russian: Сергей Григорьевич Строганов, 8 November 1794 – 22 March 1882) was a Russian statesman, art historian, archaeologist, collector, and philanthropist. He was a member of the highly successful and prominent Stroganov family

He was born in Saint Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, in 1794 to Baron Grigory Stroganov (1770–1857) and Princess Anna Trubetskaya (1765–1824).

As a teenager and young adult, he fought for Russia in the Napoleonic Wars and distinguished himself at the Battle of Borodino and at the Battle of Leipzig. In 1815, Stroganov married Natalia Pavlovna Stroganova (1796–1872), daughter of Sophie Golitsyn, with whom he had four sons and three daughters. Subsequently, Stroganov participated in the Russian-Turkish War of 1828–1829 and in the Crimean War.

Count Stroganov played a large role in the development of the Russian education and culture during the 19th century. In 1825, Stroganov founded the first private academy of art in Russia (in Moscow) using his own money. This art academy taught arts and crafts to 360 people, including to children and serfs. In 1860, this art academy was renamed the Stroganov School (it is now known as it Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry), and it produced many prominent architects and artists.

From 17 April 1859 to 8 September 1859, Count Stroganov served as Governor-General of Moscow. Starting in 1860, Stroganov was the tutor of Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich, Emperor Alexander II's eldest son, as well as of the younger sons of Alexander II. Stroganov also served on the State Council of the Russian Empire and was the Chairman of the Society of Russian History and Antiquities between 1837 and 1874, as well as the founder of the Archaeological Commission, which conducted excavations of old Russian towns.

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