Petrashevsky M.V. (1821-1866), revolutionary

Categories / Social Life/Personalia
PETRASHEVSKY (Butashevich-Petrashevsky) Mikhail Vasilievich (1821, St. Petersburg 1866), public figure. In 1836-40 studied at Tsarskoselsky Lyceum, in 1840-41 – audited classes at the Faculty of Law of Petersburg University; received an academic degree (Candidate of Jurisprudence). In 1840-45 served as translator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enjoyed considerable influence over liberal young officials and students, had an extensive collection of books, including those banned in Russia. Since 1845 he arranged weekly Friday meetings in his house near Pokrovskya Square in Kolomna (today Turgeneva Square, the building has not been preserved), there the latest Russian and foreign literature and political events in Europe were discussed, and projects of reorganising the Russian society were drafted (see Members of the Petrashevsky Circle). Influenced by French socialist ideas (especially those of C.Fourier), Petrashevsky asserted that fair life should be founded on principles of communal property and voluntary alliance, he advocated the abolition of serfdom. On 23 April 1849 he was arrested with other 33 guests of Friday meetings; imprisoned in Alexeevsky Ravelin of Peter and Paul Fortress. Charged with ill-intentioned impingement to carry out reforms of the public way of life, sentenced to be executed by shooting. After a staged preparation for the death penalty, 22 December 1849 on Semenovsky Parade Ground he was deprived of all rights and condemned to penal servitude in Siberia. In 1856 became an exile. Later on, came up against local authorities more than once. Died in Siberia.

Reference: Прокофьев В. А. Петрашевский. М., 1962; Возный А. Ф. Петрашевский и царская тайная полиция. Киев, 1985.

A. N. Svalov. Fourier Charles
Petrashevsky (Butashevich-Petrashevsky) Mikhail Vasilievich
Turgeneva Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Прокофьев В. А. Петрашевский. М., 1962
Возный А. Ф. Петрашевский и царская тайная полиция. Киев, 1985 Lyceum
Lyceum
State University, St. Petersburg
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Petrashevsky Circle
Alexeevsky Ravelin
1845