Nikolay Novikov facts for kids
Nikolay Ivanovich Novikov (Russian: Никола́й Ива́нович Новико́в) was an important Russian writer and a philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help others. He lived during the Age of Enlightenment, a time when new ideas about science, freedom, and human rights were popular. Many people consider him to be Russia's first journalist. A journalist writes for newspapers and magazines. Novikov wanted to improve education and culture for everyone in Russia.
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Early Life and Education
Nikolay Novikov was born on May 8, 1744, in the Moscow Governorate. He was one of the first Russians to benefit from the opening of Moscow State University in 1755. This university helped many people get a better education.
Becoming a Journalist
In 1767, Novikov took part in the Legislative Assembly. This group tried to create new laws for Russia. This experience made him interested in sharing ideas. He started editing the Moscow Gazette. He also launched his own journals, like Zhivopisets. These journals were similar to popular English magazines such as The Tatler and The Spectator.
Novikov used his journals to write about social issues. He often made fun of old customs and ways of life. Even Catherine the Great, the empress of Russia, noticed his writings. She even started her own journal, Vsyakaya vsyachina, to respond to Novikov's articles.
Publishing and Freemasonry
During the 1780s, Novikov became a leader in Russian Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a worldwide organization that focuses on brotherhood and helping others. This group gave him money to publish many books. Novikov's printing press produced a large number of books and newspapers for his time. About one-third of all Russian books published then came from his press.
He used his influence to do good things. For example, he worked hard to introduce the plays of William Shakespeare to Russian readers. This helped many Russians learn about famous literature.
Later Life and Challenges
When the French Revolution began, Catherine the Great became worried about new ideas. Her feelings towards people like Novikov changed. In 1792, his printing house was taken away from him.
Three years later, Novikov was put in prison at the Shlisselburg Fortress for 15 years. He was not given a formal trial. Many of his printed materials were destroyed. For example, 1,000 copies of a book called The Last Day by Edward Young were pulped, meaning they were turned back into paper pulp.
In 1796, Emperor Paul became the new ruler and set Novikov free. However, Novikov was very scared and sad after his time in prison. He never went back to being a journalist. Nikolay Novikov passed away on August 12, 1818, in the Moscow Governorate.
See also
In Spanish: Nikolái Novikov para niños
