Pavel Petrovich Shuvalov

About museum

Pavel Petrovich Shuvalov – a count, the last owner of the Lysvensky Mining District. He was born on 14 February 1847. From 1865–1868 he studied at the Universities of Saint Petersburg and Heidelberg, receiving a doctorate in civil and ecclesiastical law. From 1868–1898 he served in the military: in the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, as adjutant to Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, and as an aide-de-camp (fligel-adjutant) to Emperor Alexander III.   

Participated in the Khivan campaign of 1873 and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, during which he was awarded the Orders of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd and 2nd classes, the Order of Saint Anna, 3rd class, and the Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th class. He commanded the 134th Feodosia Infantry Regiment (1889–1893), the 4th His Majesty's Rifle Battalion (1893–1894), and the Life Guards Jäger Regiment (1894–1895). In 1895 he was awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir, 3rd class; in 1898 he received the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st class. He retired to the reserve in 1899 with the rank of Major General.  

In addition to his official duties, he devoted much time to scholarly and public work. He published works in the fields of art history and mathematics and assembled collections of applied art. He carried out a large-scale modernization of the Lysvensky plant, introducing modern technologies and equipment. He built a railway branch connecting the Gornozavodskaya Railway to the Lysvensky plant. The quality of Lysvensky metal received international recognition: in 1900 the roofing iron was awarded the Grand Prix and a gold medal at the World's Fair in Paris. He took measures to improve the conditions of the factory workers and was among the donors for the construction of the stone Holy Trinity Church. Pavel Petrovich Shuvalov died on 13 October 1902 and was buried at the Talne estate in the Kiev Governorate.