Yegor Kankrin

Count Yegor Frantsevich Cancrin , Georg von Cancrin, (also spelled Kankrin), (Russian: Егор Францевич Канкрин) (16 November 1774 – 10 September 1845) was a Russian aristocrat of German descent and as a politician best known for spearheading reforms in the Russian financial system early in the 19th century.

Cancrin was born Ludwig Daniel von Cancrin in Hanau.

In 1797, at the age of 23, Cancrin accompanied his father, the mineralogist Franz Ludwig von Cancrin, to Russia, joining the imperial service and changing his name to Georg.

In 1823, at the age of 49, Cancrin was appointed Minister of Finance and held that office for 21 years. As a politician, Cancrin was a conservative who opposed the construction of railways and the emancipation of the serfs.

Cancrin died in Pavlovsk.

In 1827, Cancrin wrote Alexander von Humboldt, the famous Prussian scientist, asking if he would visit Russia at the monarchy's expense to identify areas where Russia could develop economically. Although Russia had played a major role in defeating the armies of Napoleon, in the postwar period Russia's position in the world had not risen and potentially Humboldt's visit could identify mining areas to exploit. The Russian government had already invited experts in mining from Germany and France for this task, perhaps not surprising since Cancrin's father, a mining expert himself, had come to Russia for similar reasons. In 1829, Humboldt spent 8 months in Russia, traveling to the Chinese border and returning to St Petersburg. Cancrin had taken pains to guarantee the success of Humboldt's trip, arranging for his expenses to be paid as well as assuring the cooperation of Russian officialdom. "I shall not fail to send instructions to all governors and mining officials, with orders to put you up. Customs will be instructed to facilitate your entry into Russia." Humboldt accurately predicted that diamonds would be found in the Ural Mountains. Cancrin had initially contacted Humboldt to get his opinion about the feasibility of using Russian platinum in coinage. Humboldt recommended against it.

In 1839 cancrinite, named after the Minister of Finance, was found in the Ural Mountains.

Among Cancrin's writings, The Military Economy (published in German) is the best regarded.

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