Elim Meshchersky

Prince Elim Petrovich Meshchersky (26 October 1808 - 1844) was a Russian diplomat, poet, who wrote mainly in French. He was engaged in the translation of Russian literature into French. He compiled the posthumously published anthology "Les poètes russes" ("Russian poets", Paris, 1846). His daughter, Mariya Meshcherskaya, became the lover of the future Alexander III, before his marriage. Biography Prince Elim Meshchersky was born on 26 October 1808 in Saint Petersburg in the Meshchersky family. His father was Prince (1779-1856), privy councilor, chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod, chairman of the Bible Society. His mother, Ekaterina Ivanovna, née Chernysheva (1782-1851), was the sister of Alexander Chernyshyov, a participant in the wars with Napoleon, who later under Nicholas I of Russia became Minister of War and Chairman of the State Council. Elim was baptized on 14 November 1808 in the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on Sennaya Square, with the acceptance of Prince I. S. Meshchersky and grandmother Evdokia Dmitrievna Chernysheva. Due to illness, he received his education at home. He spent his childhood in German Weimar with his mother, where he was introduced to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and kept in touch with him all his life. Despite the fact that he did not live with his father, Elim Meshchersky never broke ties with him. Pyotr Sergeevich had a great influence on the formation of his son's worldview, on his political views, and in his correspondence, Elim Meshchersky often shared observations about the formation of his character and his views on life.