Figner V.N. (1852-1942), revolutionary

Categories / Social Life/Personalia
FIGNER Vera Nikolaevna (1852-1942), prominent figure of the revolutionary movement of the 1870-80s, author of memoirs. The sister of singer N.N. Figner. Studied at the Kazan Institute for Noble Girls, studied medicine in Switzerland. From 1876 lived in St. Petersburg, member of the revolutionary circle, affiliated to the North Revolutionary Narodnik Group (from 1878 - Land and Freedom) After the split in Land and Freedom (1879), became a member of the Executive Committee of People's Will. In the flat Figner rented at 13 Leshtukov Lane (today 15 Dzhambula Lane) constituent meetings of Executive Committee were held in September 1879 and its program was approved. Figner was one of the founders of the military organisation of the People's Will Party. From the beginning of January to 3 April 1881 she lived in a secret flat at 25 Voznesensky Avenue. After the assassination of Emperor Alexander II and the execution of participants and organisers of the assault, she left Petersburg, and tried to restore the organisation weakened by arrests. She was arrested in February 1883 in Kharkov, in 1884 sentenced to death; the sentence was substituted for penal servitude for life. In 1884-1904 lived in solitary confinement in Schliesselburg Fortress. From 1904 in exile. In 1906 emigrated abroad and launched a campaign in defence of political prisoners in Russia. In 1907-08 was a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. In 1915 returned to Russia. In December 1916 came to Petrograd, took up quarters at 19 Malaya Posadskaya Street. After the February Revolution of 1917, Chairman for the Committee of Released Political Convicts and Exiled Aid Society, member of Executive Committee of All-Russian Soviet of Peasants' Deputies, Comrade (Deputy) of Chairman of Culture and Freedom Society. In May 1919 she left Petersburg, from March 1920 lived in Moscow. The author of biographical essays about People's Will's members, articles on the history of the revolutionary movement in Russia and memoirs Retained work (volume 1-3).

References: Павлюченко Э. А. Вера Фигнер. М., 1963; Войнович В. Н. Степень доверия: Повесть о В. Фигнер. М., 1972; Барабанова А. И., Ямщикова Е. А. Народовольцы в Петербурге. Л., 1984.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Alexander II, Emperor
Figner Nikolay Nikolaevich
Figner Vera Nikolaevna
Malaya Posadskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 19
Voznesensky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 25
Zemlya i Volya (Land and Liberty) of 1870s
Narodnaya Volya
Shlisselburg Fortress.