Ivan Nikolayevich Durnovo
Encyclopedia
Ivan Nikolayevich Durnovo (1834 – 1903) was a Russia
n political figure. He served as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
between 1895 and 1903, the precursor to the post of prime minister
.
(which was located mostly within northeastern Ukraine
and Russia's Bryansk Oblast
). He attended Prince Michael Artillery Academy in Saint Petersburg
.
After a brief time in the military, he returned to civilian life and was elected by the nobility
of his uyezd
(district) to the position of the Marshal of Nobility
. Later he occupied a similar position for the entire Chernigov Governorate
. He served as the Governor of Chernigov Governorate
(1863–1870) and Yekaterinoslav Governorate
(1870–1882). Since 1882 he was in Saint Petersburg
, starting as a Deputy Minister of Interior (1882–1886).
Although not a capable statesman, he was a good communicator, capable to earn trust of his superiors. Count Sergei Witte
described him as "a pleasant Marshal of Nobility, a pleasant governor, a pleasant Deputy Minister of the Interior. But he was not a cultured or intelligent person; rather, one rather limited in his abilities. A hospitable, polite, and very cunning man."
On the Empress's recommendation, in 1886 Durnovo was appointed the chair of the Fourth Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery
, the office responsible for charitable institution and health care.
In 1889, after the death of the Minister of Interior Dmitry Tolstoy
, Durnovo was appointed to replace him. He was not known for his innovations, but rather for following his predecessor's policies. He was blamed by later researchers for failing to take decisive actions to handle the famine of 1891-92.
In 1895, the next emperor, Nicholas II
promoted Durnovo to the job of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
. At the time, this was the top of the Russian bureaucratic ladder, as the separate position of the Prime Minister of Russia
was not introduced until 1905. Durnovo was not to see that reform, though: he died on the job, on May 29 (June 11, in Gregorian Calendar), 1903, near Berlin
. His leadership qualities, not entirely admired by his colleagues, earned him the nickname of "Телячья голова" (Head of Veal
).
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n political figure. He served as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Russian Council of Ministers
The Russian Council of Ministers is an executive governmental body that brings together the principal officers of the Executive Branch of the Russian government.- Committee of Ministers :...
between 1895 and 1903, the precursor to the post of prime minister
Prime Minister of Russia
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....
.
Biography
Ivan Nikolaevich Durnovo was born on March 1 (13), 1834 in Chernigov GovernorateChernigov Governorate
The Chernigov Governorate , also known as the Government of Chernigov, was a guberniya in the historical Left-bank Ukraine region of the Russian Empire, which was officially created in 1802 from the disbanded Malorossiya Governorate with an administrative centre of Chernigov...
(which was located mostly within northeastern Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russia's Bryansk Oblast
Bryansk Oblast
Bryansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Bryansk. Population: 1,278,087 .-History:...
). He attended Prince Michael Artillery Academy in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
After a brief time in the military, he returned to civilian life and was elected by the nobility
Russian nobility
The Russian nobility arose in the 14th century and essentially governed Russia until the October Revolution of 1917.The Russian word for nobility, Dvoryanstvo , derives from the Russian word dvor , meaning the Court of a prince or duke and later, of the tsar. A nobleman is called dvoryanin...
of his uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
(district) to the position of the Marshal of Nobility
Marshal of Nobility
Marshal of Nobility was an elected position in Russian local self-government prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917.- History :Nobility of each province formed a corporation, Noble Society , governed by the Assembly of Nobility with an elected Marshal of Nobility at its head...
. Later he occupied a similar position for the entire Chernigov Governorate
Chernigov Governorate
The Chernigov Governorate , also known as the Government of Chernigov, was a guberniya in the historical Left-bank Ukraine region of the Russian Empire, which was officially created in 1802 from the disbanded Malorossiya Governorate with an administrative centre of Chernigov...
. He served as the Governor of Chernigov Governorate
Chernigov Governorate
The Chernigov Governorate , also known as the Government of Chernigov, was a guberniya in the historical Left-bank Ukraine region of the Russian Empire, which was officially created in 1802 from the disbanded Malorossiya Governorate with an administrative centre of Chernigov...
(1863–1870) and Yekaterinoslav Governorate
Yekaterinoslav Governorate
The Yekaterinoslav Governorate or Government of Yekaterinoslav was a governorate in the Russian Empire. Its capital was the city of Yekaterinoslav .-Administrative divisions:...
(1870–1882). Since 1882 he was in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, starting as a Deputy Minister of Interior (1882–1886).
Although not a capable statesman, he was a good communicator, capable to earn trust of his superiors. Count Sergei Witte
Sergei Witte
Count Sergei Yulyevich Witte , also known as Sergius Witte, was a highly influential policy-maker who presided over extensive industrialization within the Russian Empire. He served under the last two emperors of Russia...
described him as "a pleasant Marshal of Nobility, a pleasant governor, a pleasant Deputy Minister of the Interior. But he was not a cultured or intelligent person; rather, one rather limited in his abilities. A hospitable, polite, and very cunning man."
On the Empress's recommendation, in 1886 Durnovo was appointed the chair of the Fourth Section of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery
His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery
His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery or H.I.M. Own Chancery began as personal chancery of Pavel I and grew into a kind of regent's office, run by Count Arakcheyev from 1815 and until the death of Alexander I of Russia....
, the office responsible for charitable institution and health care.
In 1889, after the death of the Minister of Interior Dmitry Tolstoy
Dmitry Tolstoy
Count Dmitry Andreyevich Tolstoy was a Russian statesman, a member of the State Council of Imperial Russia . He belonged to the comital branch of the Tolstoy family....
, Durnovo was appointed to replace him. He was not known for his innovations, but rather for following his predecessor's policies. He was blamed by later researchers for failing to take decisive actions to handle the famine of 1891-92.
In 1895, the next emperor, Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
promoted Durnovo to the job of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Russian Council of Ministers
The Russian Council of Ministers is an executive governmental body that brings together the principal officers of the Executive Branch of the Russian government.- Committee of Ministers :...
. At the time, this was the top of the Russian bureaucratic ladder, as the separate position of the Prime Minister of Russia
Prime Minister of Russia
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....
was not introduced until 1905. Durnovo was not to see that reform, though: he died on the job, on May 29 (June 11, in Gregorian Calendar), 1903, near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. His leadership qualities, not entirely admired by his colleagues, earned him the nickname of "Телячья голова" (Head of Veal
Veal
Veal is the meat of young cattle , as opposed to meat from older cattle. Though veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds...
).