Bashilov, Semen Sergeevich

Born 1741 in Sergiev, Moscow Province; died July 11 (22), 1770, in St. Petersburg. One of the first publishers of ancient Russian texts.

Bashilov began his studies at the seminary of the St. Ser-gius Trinity Monastery and then studied at Moscow University from 1758 to 1763. After graduation he returned to the seminary to teach geography, geometry, geodesy, and other subjects. In 1765 he became a translator at the Academy of Sciences. He took an active part in the publishing of parts. I and II of the Nikon Chronicle (1767 and 1768). In 1768 he published a collection of historical texts on law, including the Code of 1550. In 1769–70 he translated some of the works of such authors as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau into Russian. As a result of a decision by the Academy of Sciences to curtail work on ancient texts, Bashilov was discharged from the Academy of Sciences in December 1769. (In the opinion of its reactionary officers, the study of the country’s history would encourage the development of a liberal atmosphere.) From April 1770 to the end of his life he served in the Senate as secretary of the fourth department, which was in charge of military and naval affairs.