Russian Academy

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RUSSIAN ACADEMY, a research centre for studying Russian language, literature and history. It was established in St. Petersburg in 1783. It specialized in compiling concise and specialised dictionaries. Its most important edition was the Dictionary of the Russian Academy (1789-94; 2 editions - 1806-22), the first ever, concise dictionary of the Russian language. The Russian Academy greatly influenced the development of Russian culture at the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries and the process of the formation of Russian linguistics. The Russian Academy initiated the establishment of libraries in provincial cities, the organization of scientific expeditions in Russia and abroad. The Russian Academy contributed to the development of book printing in the country. E. R. Dashkova was the first president of the Russian Academy (1783-96), she was followed by P. P. Bakunin (the head in 1786-88), A. A. Nartov (1801-13), A. S. Shishkov (1813-41). Writers, professionals and workers of art were among members of the Russian Academy: G. R. Derzhavin, D. I. Fonvizin, I. I. Lepekhin, M. M. Kheraskov, S. K. Kotelnikov, A. A. Barsov, N. Y. Ozeretskovsky, I. A. Dmitrievsky, I. A. Krylov, N. M. Karamzin, Alexander Pushkin and P. A. Vyazemsky among others. In 1841, the Russian Academy was transformed into the Second Department of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, then into the Department of Russian Language and Literature. At different times the Russian Academy was housed in the mansion of Dashkova (today 45 Stachek Avenue), in the trading house of Counsellor Tatarinov (today 112 Fontanka River Embankment). A building was erected especially for the Russian Academy in 1802-04 at 52 First Line of Vasilievsky Island (architect A. A. Mikhaylov the second; side wings were constructed in 1811-14 by architect V. P. Stasov).

References: Лозинская Л. Я. Во главе двух академий. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. М., 1983; Некрасов С. М. Российская академия. М., 1984; Коломинов В. В., Файнштейн М. Ш. Храм муз словесных: (Из истории Рос. Академии). Л., 1986; Файнштейн М. Ш. "И славу Франции в России превзойти": Рос. академия (1783-1841) и развитие культуры и гуманитар. наук. СПб., 2002.

M. S. Feinstein. Bakunin Pavel Petrovich
Barsov Anton Alexeevich
Dashkova Ekaterina Romanovna, Duchess
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich
Dmitrievsky Ivan Afanasievich
Fonvizin Denis Ivanovich
Karamzin Nikolay Mikhailovich
Kheraskov Mikhail Matveevich
Kotelnikov Semen Kirillovich
Krylov Ivan Andreevich
Lepekhin Ivan Ivanovich
Mikhaylov (Mikhaylov 2nd) Andrey Alexeevich
Nartov Andrey Andreevich
Ozeretskovsky Nikolay Yakovlevich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Shishkov V.M.
Stasov Vasily Petrovich
Vyazemsky Peter Andreevich, Duke
1st Line of Vasilievsky Island/Saint Petersburg, city, house 52
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 112
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 45
Лозинская Л. Я. Во главе двух академий. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. М., 1983
Некрасов С. М. Российская академия. М., 1984
Коломинов В. В., Файнштейн М. Ш. Храм муз словесных: (Из истории Рос. Академии). Л., 1986
Файнштейн М. Ш. "И славу Франции в России превзойти": Рос. акад. (1783 - 1841) и развитие культуры и гуманитар. наук. СПб., 2002 1783