Count Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev: biography, photo

What unites the Fountain Palace in Petersburg with the Moscow manors Kuskovo and Ostankino? All of them once belonged to Count Sheremetev. This ancient noble family gave Russia several outstanding statesmen. One of them was Sheremetev Dmitry Nikolayevich (1803 - 1871 gg.) - the great-grandson of the Field Marshal General of the Northern War.

Ancient boyar family

In the Russian chronicles of the XIV century. There was a mention of the trustee of the Moscow Prince Simeon the Proud Andrey Ivanovich Kobyle. Many noble families came from him, the most prominent being the Sheremetevs and the Romanovs.

One of the descendants of Boyar Kobyl was nicknamed Sheremet, which is recorded in the chronicles of the XV century. In the next century boyars Sheremetevs sat in the Duma, having played not the least role in the election of the homogeneous Romanov Mikhail Fedorovich in 1613

During the Petrovsky reforms, Boris Petrovich Sheremetev was especially distinguished. A talented diplomat and commander, he was the first in Russia to obtain a new title for those times. Since then, his direct descendants up until the revolutionary events of 1917 occupied prominent public posts.

Some of them became famous as patrons and philanthropists. For example, Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev left memory behind himself as a generous guardian of the Hospice for the cripples and beggars, founded in Moscow by his father.

Child Mesalyans

It is known that serf theaters enjoyed great popularity in the Russian Empire of the XVIII century. With the actress of one of them a romantic story is connected, worthy of adaptation.

It's about the beautiful Parashe - the daughter of a blacksmith from the Yaroslavl province. A small girl, she was in Kuskovo - an estate owned by Count Sheremetev. Here she had an acting and musical talent. Together with a beautiful voice this allowed the young Praskovye already in 11 years to make his debut on the stage of the serf theater.

Later, like all the actors of the Sheremetevs, she received the stage name Zhemchugova and under it played in the performance given in honor of the opening of a new theater in Kuskovo. The premiere was attended by Empress Catherine II, who presented to the performer of the main party Praskovie Zhemchugova a diamond ring.

A few years later Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev, who loved his serf actress, conceived the idea of taking her as his wife despite class barriers. To this end, he filed a petition to Emperor Alexander I. The family of the bride was free, and of her descent from the genus of the Polish nobles, they composed a beautiful legend.

In the end, permission was obtained. Praskovia Zhemchugova became Countess Sheremeteva, but, unfortunately, she died of tuberculosis shortly after the birth of her son in 1803. Her husband survived her for only six years. So in 1809 Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev remained an orphan.

Education and training

The guardians, according to the last will of the deceased count, appointed a small Mitya teacher. We do not have exact information about his home education. It is known that, according to the customs of that time, Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev studied the French language.

Later, his son recalled that his father owned them well and knew the classical literature of France. Also in the curriculum of the young graph included music, dance, singing and Russian.

As a child of unequal marriage, orphaned Dmitry Sheremetev was brought up in a social vacuum. Relatives of the father did not want to keep in touch with him, and maternal relatives on the maternal line did not have the opportunity to do so. This, of course, left an imprint on the personality of the shy young man.

Military service

His legal age in 1820, Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev noted a major donation to charity. In 1823, the earl entered the Cavalry Regiment, where he served until his resignation in the rank of captain in 1838.

Like many offspring of noble families, he combined military service with visits to theaters and balls. In his house, few friends-cavalergards often gathered. The company was made by the artist Kiprensky O., who wrote in 1824 a ceremonial portrait of Count Sheremetev.

The cavalry regiment took part not only in suppressing the speech of the Decembrists, but also in suppressing the uprising in the Kingdom of Poland in 1831. Nicholas I after returning from Poland Count Sheremetev awarded him the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree.

Charity

At the end of the XVIII century. Sheremetev N. P. conceived to found in Moscow a hospice for the poor. However, the Count did not have time to fulfill his plans - the shelter opened after his death. In the will, he asked his son not to leave without care, the Hospice House he founded.

Count Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev fulfilled his father's wish. Throughout his life, he was engaged in charity, making large donations for the maintenance of the shelter. Over time, the Moscow Hospice became an exemplary one in all of Russia. He was repeatedly visited as members of the imperial family, and foreign guests.

Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev: awards

The Order of St. Vladimir, received in 1831, was not the only one by which the reigning dynasty celebrated the merits of Count Sheremetev. Thus, in 1856, in 1858 and in 1871, Emperor Alexander II awarded him the Order of St. Stanislaus 1 st degree, St. Anna 1st degree and St. Vladimir 2 nd degree, respectively.

Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev, whose biography is inextricably linked with the history of Russia in the XIX century, died in 1871 and was buried next to his father in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The awards he received are a recognition of his great contribution to the noble cause of helping those who need it most.