Kirill Razumovsky

Early life

Kirill Razumovsky was born in Lemeshi, Kiev Regiment, Cossack Hetmanate, Russian Empire, on 29 March 1728. He was a member of the Razumovsky family, at that time low-rank family of Cossack Grigory (Hryhoriy) Rozum. He was the younger brother of Alexei Razumovsky, partner of Elizabeth of Russia. Razumovsky was sent to study in Königsberg under Leonhard Euler at age 15. He graduated from the University of Göttingen.

In July 1744, Razumovsky was given the title of count. In 1746, Razumovsky was appointed as president of the Russian Academy of Sciences and served until 1765.

Hetman In 1750, Razumovsky was elected Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host. He became the largest landowner in Ukraine, with over 100,000 peasants within his lands. Grigory Teplov was his advisor during his time as Hetman. He sought to increase the independence and autonomy of the Hetmanate. The administration of the state was reformed with the state being divided into twenty counties, courts being established, and the Cossack starshyna being called more frequently. Non-Cossacks were allowed to become starshynas.

The finances of the Hetmanate were placed under the control of the imperial government in 1754, and its tariffs were abolished in 1755. The Hetman's power to appoint colonels and distribute hereditary titles were taken away and given to the Governing Senate in 1756. Control over Kiev was taken away from Razumovsky in 1761.

Razumovsky aided Catherine the Great assume the throne in 1762. In 1763, he requested that the position of Hetman be made hereditary and remain in his family. Catherine abolished the position on 10 November 1764, and Razumovsky was given the title of General Field Marshal. This was the last Cossack leadership position to be abolished.

Later life The construction of St Andrew's Church in Kiev was launched by Razumovsky. Razumovsky travelled across Europe and visited Germany, France, and Italy from 1765 to 1767. A place designed by Aleksey Yanovsky was constructed for Razumovsky in the 1780s.

Razumovsky died in Baturyn, Chernigov Governorate, on 15 January 1803.