Chaykovsky N.V. (1850-1926), revolutionary, political figure

Categories / Social Life/Personalia
CHAYKOVSKY Nikolay Vasilievich (1850-1926) was a political figure. On graduating from the 7th St. Petersburg Gymnasium (1868) he studied at the Faculty of Natural History of St. Petersburg University. He participated in student unrest of 1868-69, and entered the circle of M.A. Natanson which became famous as the circle of adherents of Chaykovsky. In 1874, he emigrated, taking great interest in the doctrine of Divine Humanity, and living in the USA for two years in the community of Divine Men. In 1879, he returned to Europe, and lived in Paris, then in London. Chaykovsky was one of the founders of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom and of the Fund of Free Russian Press. From 1904, he was a member of the Foreign Committee of the Party of Socialist Revolutionaries, delivering party literature to Russia, and in 1905 - delivering arms to Russia. After the Manifesto of 17 October 1905, he returned to Russia. In 1906 and in 1907 he left for the USA to raise money for the needs for the party. In November 1907, he was arrested on crossing the border, and in 1910 discharged by the court. Later on he participated in co-operative movement. In the years of World War I of 1914-18 he favoured the defence tactics. After the February Revolution of 1917, he was one of the leaders of the Labour National Socialistic Party, representing the party in the Executive Committee of Petrograd Soviet. Chaykovsky was a member of the Central Executive Committee of the All-Russian Soviet of Peasants' Deputies, and served as assistant to the Head of the State Food Committee (deputy director), member of the Soviet of All-Russian Co-operative Congresses, one of the leaders of the right wing of the Democratic Conference and the Provisional Council of the Russian Republic (The Provisional Parliament). He called the events of October 1917 the act of madness, the revolution of tramps, he entered the Committee for Salvation of the Native Land and the Revolution. In August 1918, Chaykovsky became led the anti-Bolshevik uprising in Archangelsk. In 1919, he participated in the anti-Bolshevik movement in the South of Russia. From 1920, he lived in London, when he was sentenced to death punishment by the Soviet Court in absentia. At the end of his life he sought ways to improve the humanity through masonry.

Works: Memoires // Религиозные и общественные искания. Париж, 1929.

References: Николай Васильевич Чайковский // Каторга и ссылка. 1926. Кн. 26. С. 211-232.

G. S. Anoprieva, N. D. Erofeev. Chaykovsky Nikolay Vasilievich
Natanson Mark Andreevich
Николай Васильевич Чайковский // Каторга и ссылка, 1926
Воспоминания // Религиозные и общественные искания. Париж, 1929 State University, St. Petersburg
February Revolution of 1917