The Russian revolutionary MV Butashevich-Petrashevsky: a short biography

Mikhail Vasilievich Butashevich-Petrashevsky, whose photo is presented below, was born on November 1, 1821 in St. Petersburg. His father was a military doctor, a real state councilor.

MV Butashevich-Petrashevsky: short biography

In 1839, after completing his studies at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, he entered the St. Petersburg University at the Faculty of Law. After completing his education, he served as an interpreter at the Foreign Ministry. Butashevich-Petrashevsky participated in the compilation of the "Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language." The first edition was edited by Maikov. The second issue was completely corrected by Butashevich-Petrashevsky. He also wrote most of the theoretical articles. They propagandized materialistic and democratic ideas, the concept of utopian socialism.

Butashevich-Petrashevsky: who is he for pre-revolutionary Russia?

First of all, it must be said that this man was the foremost thinker of his time. Butashevich-Petrashevsky, whose biography is closely connected with the revolutionary unrest in the country, organized from 1844 in his house of assembly. In 1845 the meetings became weekly ("Fridays"). The participants of the meetings used Butashevich-Petrashevsky's library. Some of the publications were banned in Russia. They concerned the history of revolutionary movements, materialistic philosophy, utopian socialism. Butashevich-Petrashevsky, in short, advocated the democratization of the state system in the country, the liberation of peasants with land allotments.

Arrest

At the end of 1848 Butashevich-Petrashevsky took part in meetings at which the establishment of a secret community was discussed. The Thinker was an active supporter of the people's long preparation for the revolutionary struggle. In 1849, the public figure Butashevich-Petrashevsky and several dozen people associated with him were arrested. The Criminal Court sentenced them to execution. However, it was replaced by indefinite hard labor. Butashevich-Petrashevsky was exiled to Eastern Siberia.

last years of life

Since 1856, being an exile settler, Butashevich-Petrashevsky lived in Irkutsk. Here he taught, worked with local newspapers. In 1860 he organized a printed edition of "Amur". In February of the same year, for his speeches against the activities of local authorities, he was sent to Shushenskoye. In December 1860, he moved to Krasnoyarsk and lived there until 1864. Here he exerted a great influence on the work of the city duma. Krasnoyarsk governor Petrashevsky was first deported back to Shushenskoye, and then to the village of Shushenskoye. Kebezh. In early May 1866, he was transferred to the village. Bielskoe in the Yenisei District. Here he died of a hemorrhage in the brain.

Features of the revolutionary mug

The active formation of new underground communities in Russia began in the 40s of the 19th century. Among all the circles, Butashevich-Petrashevsky's organization attracted special attention. The year of its active work on the revolutionary path is the 1845th. It was then that writers, students, teachers, petty officials, officers began to gather regularly at his house. All of them were descendants of poor noble families. The existing society existed until 1849. At the meetings there was a discussion of urgent social and political issues, the development of the philosophical foundations of the worldview was under way, and plans for further action were drawn up. Serfdom was openly exposed here, characterized as a blatant evil of tsarism and the class system.

List of participants

The concept of utopian socialism found a response among the broad masses. The community expanded, taking on new members. The circle included such outstanding personalities as Dostoevsky, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Maikov, Pleshcheev, Semyonov, Rubinstein, Speshnev, Mombelli, Akhsharumov, Kashkin. There were also officers among the members of society. This indicated that the ideas of utopian socialism began to actively penetrate the army.

Practical work

Members of the community were eager for action. In 1845 the first issue of the Dictionary was published. It was published by the Guards Colonel Kirillov, who could not even think about what the revolutionary edition was releasing. The second edition was published in 1846. The "Dictionary" reflected the ideology of the new revolutionary organization. It explained different terms: "normal state", "organization of production", etc. "Dictionary" quickly spread around the hands. However, soon the publication drew the attention of the government. The copies were withdrawn from sale. But up to this point about 1 thousand pieces were distributed. Belinsky warmly greeted the appearance of the Dictionary.

Strengthening the activity of society

Gradually Petrashevists began to win revolutionary-democratic positions. The participants of the community spoke with sympathy about the problems in Russia. In particular, Mombelli wrote about the suffering of millions of people, the lack of any rights among the peasants with the high status of elite estates. Petrashevsky hated the autocracy, acted as the ardent patriots of Russia, constantly pointing out their belonging to the people. After the revolutionary events of 1848, meetings were attended by up to 50 people. The active nucleus began to stand out, the ideological struggle of the more revolutionary-minded members against those who held a moderate position took shape. Calls to action, slogans began to sound in reports and appeals.

Members of the community began to think about further plans. The proponents of utopian socialism advanced to the front. The key figure of this wing was Speshnev. In addition to Petrashevsky, the ideas of socialism were shared by Khanykov, Kashkin, Akhsharumov, etc. The community had a great influence on Chernyshevsky's worldview. He was not a member of society, but he had a close relationship with him through his comrades - Khanykov, Lobodovsky.

Police surveillance

Many members of the circle counted on the beginning of the military revolution in the country. They believed that in Russia it is necessary to conduct a mass uprising. Members of the community developed a project of a secret printing house, made agitation leaflets. Speshnev prepared a draft charter of the community. All were waiting for the rise of the peasant movement. However, they failed to create a revolutionary organization. Employees of the king were able to track down "Fridays" and establish surveillance over the community. The Petrashevsky meeting was infiltrated by a police agent. He listened to everything that was happening around, and then passed on the reports to the government.

In 1849, April 2, on the orders of Nicholas, the most active members of the circle were arrested. According to the tsar, sympathy for republican and communist ideas was equated with the most serious crime against the state. Among them were Petrashevsky, Dostoevsky, Mombelli, Speshnev. A total of 39 people were arrested. The High Court decided that 21 of them were worthy of death. But, recognizing the circumstances that mitigated the blame, the instance suggested replacing the execution with hard labor, prisoner companies and a reference to the settlement.

Imitation of execution

Nicholas 1 agreed with the final verdict of the court, but decided to force the convicts to survive the fear of death. In 1849, December 22, all the accused were taken to Semenovskaya Square. The convicts saw a tall scaffold, columns piled into the ground, troops built in square, and a crowd of people. After reading the verdict on the convicts pulled out their hoodies. Three - Petrashevsky, Grigoriev and Mombelli - tied to the posts, covering their faces with caps. The convicts heard the rifle clattering, the drum roll. At that moment, an adjutant wing appeared with Nikolai's order for pardon. Petrashevsky was immediately shackled and sent to Siberia for hard labor.

A few days later, the rest of the members of the public were taken. Among the convicts was also Dostoevsky - a famous great writer. He was sentenced to four years of hard labor in a prison castle in Omsk, and then to 6 years of service in a linear battalion in Semipalatinsk.