Petr Grigorʹevich Butkov

Pyotr Grigoryevich Butkov ( December 29, 1775 – January 12, 1857) was a Russian historian of the Russian Empire in the 19th century, full member of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, statesman, Actual Privy Councillor, and Senator.

Biography He was born on in the sloboda of Osinovo, Starobelsky Uyezd, Kharkov Governorate. He had an elder brother, Mikhail.

He began his service in the Vladimir Dragoon Regiment. While on military service in the Caucasus, Butkov began collecting materials on the history of Georgia and Russia's relations with Persia. During the years of Georgia's annexation (1801–1802), he served as head of the chancellery of Commander-in-Chief Karl Knorring.

In 1803, Butkov retired from service and, leaving the Caucasus, settled in Saint Petersburg, where he continued his studies on the history of Georgia.

In 1805, Butkov re-entered service and was attached to the Heraldry Office; in 1809 he was appointed auditor-general's lieutenant to the commander-in-chief of the Moldavian Army, Field Marshal Prince Alexander Prozorovsky, and under the latter's successors, Prince Bagration and Count Nikolay Kamensky, he also managed the field chancellery and conducted correspondence concerning the army's operations and movements.

In 1811, Butkov left service due to illness and remained in retirement until 1820, when he was appointed Director of Schools of Voronezh Governorate; in 1823 he was appointed an official for special assignments under the Finnish Governor-General Count Zakrevsky.

In 1828 he was appointed a member of the Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in that capacity twice administered the ministry in the absence of the minister; in 1841 he was elected an academician, and in 1849 was appointed Senator.

He was awarded the ranks of Actual State Councillor (1826), Privy Councillor (1836), and Actual Privy Councillor (1856).

He died on . He was buried at Volkovo Orthodox Cemetery . The grave has been lost.

A cave in the Northern Caucasus, near Novosvododnaya (Adygea), is named after Butkov. .