15 January 1831 Russian businessman Pavel Demidov established the award "To assist the success of the sciences"
January 15 The 1831 Prize was established to promote the advancement of science. Pavel Nikolaevich Demidov (1798 - 1840), a Russian businessman, the richest owner of the Ural iron-smelting plants, became its founder. Possessing enormous wealth, Demidov patronized the prosperity of scientific knowledge in Russia. Starting from the 1830 year and up to his death in the 1840 year, on the birthday of the sovereign Alexander Nikolaevich (17 April), he contributed thousands of rubles to the Academy of Sciences for 20 thousand for the awards for the best parts of Russia in different parts and for 5 thousand rubles "for the publication of handwritten creations crowned by the Academy". From 1832, the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Empire, on Demidov donations, annually gave Demidov awards for outstanding works in the amount of 5 thousand rubles (large) and 2,5 thousand rubles (small). This award was considered the most honorable nongovernmental award of the Russian Empire. The prize was awarded annually before 1866, and over the years 55 full and 220 half awards have been allocated to scientists. The first recipients were Magnus Georg von Pauker for his work in Russian metrology, Yuli Andreevich Gagemeister for his work “Finding about the finances of ancient Russia” and Alexander Khristoforovich Vostokov - “Russian grammar by Alexander Vostokov, according to the outline of his own reduced grammar, more fully stated”. Among the winners were such prominent people of the empire as the Russian navigator, Arctic explorer Fedor Litke, historian Alexander Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, navigator and explorer Ivan Krusenstern, historian and writer Mikhail Pogodin, physicist Boris Yakobi, surgeon and anatomist, naturalist Nikolai Pirogov, chemist and etc.
Pavel Demidov noted that during World War 1812, he was a member of the Battle of Borodino. Fourteen years old young men, he was recorded in the "Demidov" regiment of the Moscow militia, formed with the money of his father. Then he served for about 15 years, retired in 1826 year. After the death of his father in the 1828 year, he and his brother Anatoly inherited a large fortune and became involved in mining and public charity. In 1829, a philanthropist donated 500 thousand rubles in aid to orphans and widows of officers and soldiers who laid down their heads during the Zabalkan campaign. He also handed over 100 thousand rubles to the Moscow Society of Agriculture. Together with his brother, he participated in the construction of the Nikolaev Children's Hospital in the Russian capital. In 1831-1834 was the governor of Kursk and built his own money 4 hospital.
In 1993, at the initiative of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and as a result of the combined efforts of the Ural scientists and entrepreneurs, the tradition of issuing Demidov Prizes was restored in Yekaterinburg. National non-governmental Demidov Prizes have been awarded for personal outstanding contributions in the fields of: earth sciences, physics and mathematics, economics and entrepreneurship, as well as for significant contributions to the humanities. However, from this point on scientists were awarded not for a separate outstanding scientific work, but for the totality of works. Future winners are determined not on a competitive basis, but by interviewing specialists in a particular field of science. The final decision is made by the five commissions and the committee on prizes, which includes the most prominent Russian scientists. The payment of premiums is made from the National Scientific Non-State Demidov Foundation. Each laureate receives a diploma, a gold medal in a unique malachite box and an amount equal to 10 — 15 thousand US dollars.Of stories Demidov family
It should be noted that the Demidov family is among the names that have left a bright trace in the history of Russia. Natives of ancient Tula, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the family of the Ural mining and industrialists and patrons of the arts became a kind of symbol of Russian enterprise, Russian wealth and Russian generosity in their homeland and beyond. The history of the Demidov family dates back to the era of Peter I and originates from the Tula blacksmith, Demid Grigoriev, the son of Antufeyev. His son - Nikita Demidov (1656-1725) in his youth he worked as an apprentice hired by one of the blacksmiths Armory settlements. In 1695, a gunsmith-entrepreneur, thanks to the support of the king, who noted talented, state-minded people, built a metallurgical plant in Tula. As a result, Demidov became one of the most active associates of Peter I on the reorganization of Russia. He played a large role in the development of the Ural industrial region. In the Urals, he quickly converted the Nevyansk Treasury Plant transferred to him into possession into a high-performance metallurgical enterprise and together with his son Akinfiy Demidov (1678-1745) founded 6 more new plants, which for a long time were the best not only in Russia but also in Europe. During the Northern War with Sweden, his enterprises were suppliers of quality weapons for the army. At the enterprises, metal production was constantly growing, and high quality. No wonder Tsar Peter I in 1718 ordered by his personal decree for the needs of the Russian fleet accept only high-quality iron from Demidov’s enterprises, and “from the other iron factories no Admiralty ... not ordered to accept for unsuitability”. An important role was played by the industrialist in the construction of the new capital of the Russian state - St. Petersburg. In 1709, Demidov was awarded the rank of commissar, and in 1720 he was granted the title of nobleman.
His son Akinfiy continued the work of his father. From his youthful age he was accustomed to blacksmithing, weapons and ironworking, and during his father's life he took the most active part in the management of the enterprises belonging to him. As a result, he became one of the founders of the metallurgical industry in Russia. So, in 1725, Nizhny Tagil Iron and Iron Works, the largest in Europe, was commissioned. In the same year he became the sole heir of the "mountain kingdom". He energetically developed the business, and with his independent activities 9 iron and 7 copper smelters were put into operation. For his work for the good of the Fatherland in the 1740 year, he was promoted to the rank of state councilor, and in 1742, he was made state councilor. Demidov metal with the Old Sable brand name was considered the best in the Russian state and was exported to America and European countries, even to England, which was considered a recognized monopolist in the field of metallurgy. Akinfiy, not only actively developed the Urals industry, but mastered the Siberian territories. In particular, the foundation of Barnaul, the beginning of the development of the wealth of Altai is associated with his name. In 1726, the first copper smelter in the Altai Territory was built near Lake Kolyvan, and Barnaul and Shulba copper plants a bit later. In the southwestern part of the Altai Mountains, more than 30 ore deposits were developed, including Zmeinogorskoe, where they began to mine the first Russian silver.
His older son Prokofy Akinfievich Demidov (1710-1786), did not follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, experiencing the greatest interest in botany. He sold the inherited plants and began to live permanently in Moscow, engaged in gardening. They founded the subsequently famous “Neskuchny” botanical garden (the heirs of Prokofy presented this garden as a gift to the city). “Good citizen” Prokofy lent the state treasury, supported the founding of Moscow University, and together with his brothers donated 21 thousand rubles and a mineralogical cabinet from 6 thousand items. He also contributed scholarships for poor students — so-called. "Demidov board". Prokopiy showed great attention to the Moscow Educational House, in whose favor he contributed 1 million 107 thousand rubles in silver (i.e. 3 million 874 thousand 500 rubles in banknotes). A maternity ward was opened for these funds, and in 1772, the first state commercial school for 100 merchants' children was established in the state (205 rubles were additionally donated to this school). He also became the initiator of the establishment of the loan and safekeeping offices at the Moscow Educational House. These banking institutions engaged in lending on the security of movable and immovable property. Prokopiy Demidov also supported with his capital the creation of a branch of the Moscow Educational House in St. Petersburg and the main public school in Moscow. For his charity, Prokofy was promoted to full state councilor.
The youngest son of Akinfiy Demidov - Nikita Akinfievich Demidov (1724-1789), unlike his brother, showed interest in the family business and the inherited plants were not only not sold, but also multiplied. So, he added three more to the six Nizhny Tagil factories he inherited. And after modernization, together they gave more iron and iron than all his father’s enterprises put together. In addition, he was the first of the Demidovs to become a collector, collecting artistic and historical values. In 1771-1773 He traveled around Europe, paying great attention to European painting and buying his favorite works. Objects, paintings, sculptures and various "curious" things collected on this journey became the basis of the family art collection. The heirs multiplied it, and the Demidov collection became one of the largest private collections in the world. Fedot Shubin miner helped become a world-famous sculptor. By his order, the master will create sculptural portraits of the Demidov spouses. Nikita Akinfievich became the pioneer of art education in the Urals, and under his auspices art craftsmanships, primarily artistic iron castings and lacquer painting on metal, actively developed. Significant sums were spent on training young talents, serf artists were sent to study in Moscow, St. Petersburg and even abroad.
The son of Nikita Akinfievich Demidov - Nikolay Nikitich Demidov (1773-1828), served in the army as aide-de-camp Prince G.A. Potemkin, later granted to the chamber junkers and real chamberlaines. Under Emperor Pavel Petrovich, he became a member of the Chamber Chamber with the rank of privy councilor and commander of the Order of Sts. John of Jerusalem (as a sign of the special location of the sovereign). He, like his father, was an industrialist and a generous benefactor. After traveling through Europe, he introduces advanced developments in the field of mining and metallurgical production at his factories, sends dozens of workers to study abroad. In Taganrog, he will build a flotilla of 5 ships for the transport of goods on the Black and Mediterranean seas. During World War 1812, Nikolai Demidov formed a regiment of the Moscow militia ("Demidov") at his own expense, and with him participated in the Battle of Borodino. When the collections of the Demidovs gave Moscow University were lost in the fire of the Moscow fire, Nikolai recovers this loss by giving the university a study of natural history from 6 thousand items worth 50 thousand rubles.
In Nizhny Tagil, an industrial philanthropist builds a school, a hospital, an orphanage, converts a mining factory to a Vyisky school for the training of mining personnel. The most gifted students are sent to study in Moscow, St. Petersburg and European countries. In Moscow, Demidov donated his Sloboda palace and 100 thousand rubles for the organization of the industrious home, the house in Gatchina was donated to the government for the construction of a local charity shelter. Large sums were donated by Demidov for charity purposes - 100 thousand rubles to the Committee for Disabled People, 50 thousand rubles to flood victims in the Russian capital, etc. In the last years of his life N. Demidov lived in Florence, where he collected one of the biggest artistic collections, she was bequeathed to Russia. In Florence, a school, a hospital, and a home for the elderly and orphans were built for his money. Therefore, in 1871, grateful townspeople erected a monument to him by Lorenzo Bartolini.
Another famous Demidov is Pavel Grigorievich Demidov (1738-1821), son of Gregory Akinfievich Demidov. He studied at Revel, at the University of Göttingen, and then at Freiberg, where he attended lectures on chemistry, mineralogy, metallurgy, and mining. He studied at the University of Uppsala with the famous Swedish scientist C. Linnaeus. He traveled extensively in Western European countries, studied mining, and studied the latest technologies in the field of metallurgy. He inherited the enterprises he inherited from his father to his brothers, and after retiring in the rank of State Counselor in 1772, he devoted himself entirely to science. The range of his interests was very wide - from philosophy, literature and music to botany and mineralogy. He acquired a huge collection of minerals, books, manuscripts, paintings, antiques, coins, birds and rare animals. In 1778 and 1803 he handed them to Moscow University, together with 100 thousand rubles. On his capital at the university created the department of natural history. His collections and collections of books served as the basis for the university's museum of natural history. In addition, Pavel Demidov betrayed 50 thousand rubles in favor of Kiev and Tobolsk universities. However, the University of Tobolsk was not opened, therefore the already donated capital (increased to 150 thousand) was later transferred to the Tomsk University.
The scientist-naturalist became the founder of a higher educational institution in Yaroslavl. On its basis, Pavel Demidov handed over 100 thousand rubles, as well as more than three and a half souls of serfs, who were valued at 1 million 73 thousand rubles. In 1805, the Yaroslavl Demidov Higher Sciences School with the rights of a university was opened, then it became the Demidov Juridical Lyceum. For his patronage activities was awarded the Order of St.. Vladimir 1 degree, as well as in his honor was awarded a gold medal with the image of the benefactor and the signature "For the Benefit of the Sciences."
Anatoly Nikolaevich Demidov (1813-1870) - the younger son of Nikolai Nikitich Demidov and the brother of Pavel Demidov, was also an industrialist and a prominent benefactor. In his younger years, he served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia at embassies in Paris, Vienna, Rome and London. Demidov retired in 1836 year due to poor health. Continuing the family tradition, actively collecting art. Huge wealth, frequent travels in Europe and excellent taste allowed him to collect one of the best art collections in the world. When it was a "triumphal parade of Russian malachite" at the World Exhibition in London, malachite was also supplied for the Winter Palace and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
He actively helped Russian artists, especially Karl Bryullov. At his request, the famous painting “The Last Day of Pompeii” was painted, which, after exhibitions in Europe, was presented to Nicholas I for the Imperial Hermitage. Supported A. Demidov and the activities of K.A. Tona, who created the Russian-Byzantine style in architecture. At his expense, the Napoleonic Museum was established on Elba Island. Big money was spent on charity purposes: 500 thousand rubles were contributed to the establishment of the Demidov House of Diligence, and 100 thousand rubles to the construction of the Nikolaev Children's Hospital in the capital. Significant amounts were spent on arranging temporary hospitals during the cholera epidemic, organizing free outlets for the poor, to help flood victims. Thus, the genus Demidov two centuries served Russia.
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