Cherkassky Vladimir Alexandrovich
(14(26).02.1824 - 03(15).03.1878)

Prince, Russian statesman and public figure, Slavophile, Moscow mayor.
Born in the village of Odintsovo, Chernsky district, Tula province. He came from a princely family, originating from the Kabardian ruler Inal, who built the lineage to the Egyptian Mamluk sultans.
In 1844 he graduated from the Law Faculty of Moscow University. During his studies, he was influenced by professors M.P. Pogodin, O. M. Bodyansky, and N. I. Krylov. He was awarded a silver medal for his work “An Essay on the History of the Rural Estate in Russia”: having outlined the history of the political development of the Russian volost, he pointed to the only, in his opinion, normal way out of the serfdom - “communal political life of the volost based on solid land ownership”.
After graduation, he was preparing for scientific activity — he was collecting materials for a dissertation on “kissers,” but, living in his estate village Prigory Venevsky Uyezd, carried away by agriculture and the peasant question, for the discussion of which he organized circles of landowners. He drafted a project for the liberation of peasants from serfdom, in which he gave an analysis of the "Regulation on Obligatory Peasants" by Count P. D. Kiselyov, condemning landless liberation (except for courtyards and artisans). On his estates, he conducted an experiment - exemption with a redemption price of 60–100 rubles. for a soul with installments for 2-3 years, which, however, gave rise to doubt the sincerity of his intentions.
Cherkassky participated in the activities formed by the Tula governor N.N. Muravyov circle of landowners to develop a project for the liberation of peasants in their own estates.
After marrying Yekaterina Alekseevna Vasilchikova in 1850, spent the winters in Moscow, where he became close to the Slavophiles, participated in the activities of the Slavophil circles (1850–1851), and prepared the article “St. George’s Day” for the second volume of the Moscow Collection. The article was recognized by censorship as "especially harmful", Prince. Cherkassky was subjected to restrictions on printing rights and police supervision, removed after the accession of Alexander II. He was close to the Slavophiles in practical matters, not sharing the religious and philosophical foundations of Slavophilism.
He participated in the editorial office of Russian Conversation, published articles on the Review of Political Events in Europe for 1855, On the Works of Montalamber and Tocqueville, and the Triple Alliance.
At the beginning of 1857 he spoke with the work “On the best means for a gradual exit from the serfdom”, where he concluded that the reform should also fulfill the task of providing labor for industrial and commercial agricultural production.
Since the end of 1857, he actively participated in public activities to prepare the Peasant Reform. The Tula Provincial Committee defended the issue of allotting peasants with land, and was threatened with expulsion from the Tula nobles. He published the article “Some Features of the Future Rural Administration”, in which he advocated giving the nobles the preferential right to observe the interests of the rural estate and the local court over it, the right of custody and supervision, and the landowner to retain the right to corporal punishment of peasants (up to 18 rods).
As an expert member, he was a member of the Drafting Commission for drafting regulations on peasants (1858–1860), where he adjoined N.A. Milyutin and Yu.F. Samarin. In 1861 - 1863 he was a world mediator in the Venevsky district.
Assistant Secretary of State N.A. Milyutin, Chief Director of the Government Commission of the Interior in the Kingdom of Poland (1864–1866), together with N.A. Milyutin and Yu.F. Samarin pursued a policy of appeasement after the Polish uprising of 1863, participated in the development of the Regulation of February 19, 1864, which allocated land to Polish peasants. With his direct participation, legislation on education was adopted and a new policy was developed in the confessional sphere.
V.A. Cherkassky - Moscow Mayor (April 4, 1869 - March 13, 1871), one of the authors of the City Reform of 1870 and the City Status.
On his initiative, the Moscow Duma, on the occasion of the declaration of independence of Russia's actions on the Black Sea (limited by the Paris Treaty) and the introduction of universal military service (1870), submitted a most authentic address, regarded by the Minister of the Imperial Court as drawn up "in an inappropriate and indecent form."
No one has gained such rights to the gratitude of the people as you, sovereign, and the people do not pay anyone with such ardent affection. He accepted a gift from you, and in you himself he continues to see the most reliable guardian of the liberties acquired by him, which have now become his daily bread. He expects from you alone the completion of your good undertakings and, first of all, the expanse of opinion and the printed word, without which the spirit of the people disappears and there is no place for sincerity and truth in his relations to power; church freedom, without which the sermon itself is also invalid; finally, the freedom of a believing conscience - this most precious of the treasures of the human soul. Sovereign, external and internal affairs are inextricably linked. The key to success in the field of the external lies in the strength of national self-awareness and self-esteem that the state contributes to all the functions of its life. Only by steadfast service to the beginning of the nation is the state organism strengthened, its outskirts pulled together with it and that unity is created that was the unchanging historical testament of your and our ancestors and the constant banner of Moscow from the beginning of its existence.
After the incident, resigned; several years as an individual traveled to Europe.
During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, he was authorized by the army at the head of the Red Cross Society. His merit belongs to the preparation of ambulance trains, vehicles transporting the wounded. He personally managed the finances of the Red Cross Society. His disposition saved hundreds of lives defending Shipkinsky pass and besieging Pleven. At this time, as the head of the civil administration of Bulgaria, he was engaged in the organization of a civil administration in the occupied territory; introduced rural, city and zemstvo self-government. The note prepared by him was approved by the Emperor and formed the basis of the Bulgarian Constitution of 1879.
Died on the day of the conclusion of the San Stefano Peace Treaty. On his deathbed he was interested in only one thing - N.P. Ignatieff with Turkish representatives. He was buried in Danilovsky Monastery near N.V. Gogol, A.S. Khomyakov and Yu.F. Samarin.
Cape on the southwestern coast of Tkachen Bay. Named commander of the clipper "Strelok" by captain-lieutenant A. De Livron in 1881.