Nikita Zotov

Zotov, Nikita Moiseevich

 

Born about 1644; died 1718. Dumnyi d’iak (state secretary), count (after 1710).

Zotov began his service as an undersecretary (pod’iachii) inprikazy (administrative offices) in Moscow. From the end of 1670 until the early 1680’s he served as tutor to the tsarevich Peter. In 1695 he headed the chancellery of Peter I’s campaign against Azov. In 1701 he was appointed chief of the Privy Chancellery and the Office of the Seal (pechatnyi prikaz). He was a companion of the young tsar in his amusements.