Historical personalities, one way or another, are significantly associated with large clans and ancient families. Few people have not heard the name of the Demidovs, it flashes quite often in the chronicles of the past. This is an outstanding family, all of them not only served for the benefit of the state, but also touched upon the charitable direction and art. For example, one of the most famous descendants, Pavel Pavlovich Demidov, Prince of San Donato, belongs to the sixth generation. This man left a deep and bright mark in the history of Russia.
Childhood and youth
This outstanding man was born in 1839, October 9, in the city of Weimar. His father was Pavel Nikolaevich Demidov, a hereditary nobleman and mining industrialist, a philanthropist and just a very smart person who died about two years after the birth of the heir. Aurora Shenval, a hereditary noblewoman and also a very educated woman, became her mother.
Pavel Pavlovich Demidov received an excellent education, but unfortunately, there is not much information about his childhood. But it is known that heIn 1856, he successfully entered the Faculty of Law at St. Petersburg University, graduating four years later, receiving a Ph. D. Immediately after graduation, the future philanthropist chose to leave his homeland and moved to Paris. There he continued his education, but under the guidance of famous people - Franck, Laboulet and Baudrillard.
Family Life
Pavel Demidov married exactly twice, which is not surprising given the realities of that time. His first wife in 1867 was Princess Maria Elimovna Merescherskaya, but the marriage was unsuccessful. For the girl herself, this wedding was by no means desirable, but Pavel Pavlovich Demidov simply burned with love and immediately decided to give birth to heirs. While he was waiting for his first child, his wife gradually faded away, and after the birth of her son in the summer of 1868, she died altogether. The boy was named Elim - in honor of the rare name of the father of the first wife. But no matter how Pavel was expecting a child, the death of his beloved woman drove him into a deep depression, he no longer hoped for happiness.
Maria Elimovna was originally buried in her own family's family vault in Paris. And in honor of her, the heartbroken husband became the founder of a shelter for disadvantaged and poor women, calling it "Maria".
Three years after the death of his first wife, Prince Demidov got married again. The choice fell on Princess Elena Petrovna Trubetskaya, from whom he later had five children. The year of the wedding is 1791, and already in 1792 the first-born, Nikita, was born, the name was given in honor of the great grandfathers. But after a year and a half, the long-awaited girl appears. She was named after her grandmother– Aurora.
The same year, the Prince and his family move to Italy, where they buy the Pratolino estate, which at the time of its creation (second half of the 16th century) was being worked on by the great architect Buontalenti for Francesco the First Medici, Duke of Florence. But the estate itself went to the Demidov family in a deplorable state. Throughout the area - 1.5 square meters. km. devastation and chaos reigned, instead of fountains and statues there were only piles of stones and desolation.
Having bought the Pratolino residence, the family began to actively work on recreating its former splendor. Everything that is possible is being restored, materials are being purchased and new buildings are being built, and a monument to the ancestor of the dynasty, Nikolai Demidov, made of Carrara marble, is being erected on the site of the old palace.
Career
After the death of his first wife, Pavel Demidov moves to Vienna, where he enters the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, besides, he was assigned to the embassy. But he did not like it abroad, and he returned to his homeland, where he became a modest adviser to the provincial government. Not for long again.
Soon the prince decided to move to Kyiv, where he became a justice of the peace, and already in 1870 the head of the city. At the same time, his uncle, Anatoly Demidov, dies, bequeathing to his beloved nephew all his fortune and the title of Prince of San Donato.
In 1877, during the war with Turkey, the Demidovs again returned to their homeland, to Kyiv, where they took an active part in helping citizens. The prince himself spares neither his own he alth normoney by sending aid to those in need.
Death
The famous man died in 1885, having done a lot for his homeland. During his lifetime, he funded many benefits such as pensions and bonuses for certain categories of citizens. At his expense, several educational and charitable institutions were built at the Nizhny Tagil plant, colleges and schools, chambers and pharmacies, and hospitals. He never spared money for those in need, he never refused help if he saw that it was really needed. The man was great.
