Sign up
You have successfully registered, a confirmation email has been sent to the email address you provided.
Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky
About museum
Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky – a Russian historian, ordinary professor at Moscow University, Honored Professor of Moscow University, ordinary academician of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences for Russian history and antiquities (1900), chairman of the Imperial Society of Russian History and Antiquities at Moscow University, Privy Councillor.
Vasily Klyuchevsky was born into a priest's family. His father tragically died during a thunderstorm, and the family was forced to move and become supported by the diocese. Klyuchevsky began his studies at a religious school, but because of a severe stammer he had difficulties with his studies. He managed to overcome the defect and later even acquired brilliant oratorical skills. Despite an initial intention to become a priest, in his final year of the seminary Klyuchevsky left it and entered the historical-philological faculty of Moscow University.
In 1865 Klyuchevsky graduated from the university with a gold medal for his candidate thesis. He was retained as a stipendary at the department and prepared for a professorial rank. Klyuchevsky taught at several institutions in the capital, including the Alexander Military School, the Moscow Theological Academy, and Moscow University. His scholarly activity was prolific. He defended his doctoral dissertation and became a professor at four educational institutions simultaneously. Klyuchevsky wrote a number of significant historical works, among them: 'The Boyar Duma of Ancient Rus', 'The Russian Ruble of the 16th–18th Centuries in Its Relation to the Present', 'The Origin of Serfdom in Russia', 'Eugene Onegin and His Ancestors'. From 1893 to 1895 Klyuchevsky taught history to Grand Duke George, son of Emperor Alexander III. He was close to the imperial family and enjoyed the emperor's favor.
In 1869 Klyuchevsky married Anisya Borodina. A son, Boris, was born from this marriage; he assisted his father in his scholarly work. In 1900 Klyuchevsky published his monumental work 'A Course of Russian History' in five parts. This work was the result of 30 years of labor and remains a classic of historical literature. Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky died in 1911 and was buried at the Donskoy Cemetery in Moscow. His works and legacy continue to play an important role in the study of Russian history.
Date of birth
28 January 1841
Date of death
25 May 1911
Occupation
Historian