Novosiltsev, Nikolai
Novosil’tsev, Nikolai Nikolaevich
Born 1768; died Apr. 8 (20), 1838, in St. Petersburg. Russian statesman. President of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences from 1803 to 1810; granted title of count in 1833.
Enrolled in the Corps of Pages as a child, Novosil’tsev served in the military from 1783 to 1796. He enjoyed the special trust of Alexander I, and he was a member of the Unofficial Committee (an advisory group). From the end of 1804 until 1809 he was on a number of diplomatic assignments in Western Europe.
In 1813, Novosil’tsev became vice-president of the provisional council established to administer the Duchy of Warsaw. When the duchy was renamed the Kingdom of Poland, he became chief delegate to the Sejm; he treated the Poles with severity. In 1832 he became chairman of the Council of State and the Cabinet of Ministers.