"Not in words, but in deeds": the great Demidov dynasty, a symbol of Russian wealth and generosity

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

There is hardly another dynasty of entrepreneurs in Russia, like the Demidovs, that would bring so much benefit to their country. As associates of the reformer tsar, they greatly contributed to the formation of Petrine Russia, the build-up of its industrial and military might, by the example of their factories showed that the Russians can work no worse than the Germans. Being very tough managers and the most generous philanthropists, they were an example of how to make and spend money.

Nikita Demidov (1656-1725) - blacksmith-turned-oligarch

At a chance meeting with the tsar, who was passing through Tula, the blacksmith and arms maker Nikita Demidovich Antyufeev managed to interest Peter I by showing him a Tula hand weapon, which was not inferior in quality to foreign ones, but which cost much less. During the outbreak of the war with the Swedes for access to the Baltic, the talented master was instructed to increase the production of Tula weapons and supply them to the Russian army, with which “Demidych”, as Peter called him, did an excellent job, having built his first metallurgical plant for this purpose in the Tula province.

At that time, the demand for metal was acute, and since the mining business was in a deplorable state, the metal had to be bought abroad. With the outbreak of the war, Sweden, the main importer of metal, stopped deliveries to Russia, prices for metal soared, and Peter decided to urgently establish its production by developing the mineral resources of the Urals. The products of the first state-owned factories built there turned out to be of excellent quality (Nikita Antyufeev was also involved as an expert), but they worked intermittently, since there was a very shortage of knowledgeable people. And when Nikita turned to Peter with a request to transfer these factories to him in private ownership, the tsar, who was personally convinced of his talent and organizational abilities, happily agreed, because he needed such people like air. The diploma was awarded to two factories, the huge lands adjacent to them, and Magnetic Mountain with the richest deposits. It was then that Peter personally changed his surname Antyufeev to Demidov.

Under the leadership of Demidov, the factories quickly turned into advanced enterprises with very high productivity. If earlier they produced 10-20 thousand poods of iron per year, then under Demidov - 400 thousand. All this time, the eldest son Akinfiy worked hand in hand with his father. After a while, they opened six more factories, thus laying the foundation for the development of metallurgy and the entire infrastructure in the Urals. Along with the construction of factories, communications were laid between them, the unnavigable Chusovaya River was cleared, and roads to European Russia were built. The remote Ural regions began to be actively populated. Russia, having seized the leadership from Sweden, turned into the main supplier of metal in Europe.

Akinfiy Nikitich Demidov (1678-1745)

It was under Akinfia Demidov that the dynasty reached its heyday and glory. Having inherited the entire “mountain” empire of his father in 1725, Akinfiy set to work with great energy, which he knew perfectly well, and in 20 years brought the number of his factories to 25, turning one of them, Nevyanskiy, into the most advanced enterprise in the world and overtaking the leading European countries in the amount of metal produced. The highest quality metal from its factories was exported to Europe and America. In addition, it was Akinfiy who discovered the richest mines in Altai, which became the main suppliers of silver for Russia. For great services, Catherine I bestowed titles of nobility on the Demidovs.

Russian "Leaning Tower" in Nevyansk

In the former estate of the Demidovs, the town of Nevyansk, there is a very interesting structure - its own "Leaning Tower", built under Akinfia Demidov. It is still unknown why she leaned so. Rumor has it that once in the basements of this tower, in special workshops, the Demidovs secretly made gold and silver coins. But reliable confirmation of this was not found, although commissions came to the Demidovs more than once to check.

Third generation of the Demidov dynasty

With the death of Akinfey Demidov, the era of a huge mountain empire, which was divided between his three sons, ended, but only his youngest son Nikita continued his father's work.

Nikita Akinfievich Demidov (1724-1789)

Extensive mining knowledge and a family business acumen contributed to the fact that he soon added three more to the inherited factories and began to produce even more metal than his father did in his time. The second half of his life Nikita Akinfievich, being a very educated person, well versed in science and art, preferred to spend in the capitals, in secular circles, like a rich nobleman, enjoying life. He provided serious support to Moscow University, and also did not forget about the talented Ural masters, sending them to study even abroad, while spending colossal money.

The next generations of the Demidovs also continued their charitable activities. The establishment of a prestigious award for scientists, the creation of a college of higher sciences in Yaroslavl (now Yaroslavl University), the construction of four cast-iron bridges in St. Petersburg, generous donations to the funds of universities and academies, and much, much more - all these are Demidovs.

Entered the history of Russia and great Russian entrepreneurs and patrons of the arts Stroganovs - a dynasty of exceptional scale of activity and unheard of wealth, which did not leave the political and economic arena of Russia for five centuries.