Mikhail Stepanovich Brankevich

Background

Mikhail Stepanovich Brankevich was born in 1778 (according to other sources in the period from 1778 to 1780) in the territory of modern Ukraine. He came from a poor noble family.

Education

Mikhail Stepanovich Brankevich having received primary education at Kiev Theological Academy (graduated in 1795), he became a student of Moscow University Gymnasium. In 1799, he entered the philosophy department of Imperial Moscow University.

Career

Brankevich's literary career started as early as 1794: in the magazine Pleasant and Useful Pastime, he published his prose translations from French and German, as well as poems. His early works were written in the spirit of sentimentalism and pre-romanticism.

In 1804, after graduating from the university, Mikhail Stepanovich taught literature, philosophy, and commercial sciences at the Smolensk gymnasium. But in 1805 he was transferred to the post of teacher of arithmetic in the gymnasium of Moscow University.

Having received the title of Master of Mathematical Sciences in 1807, Mikhail Stepanovich worked for the Department of the Ministry of Justice office but pretty soon left the service for health reasons. During this period, his literary style underwent significant changes: now Michael created more folk works. The author gained the greatest popularity with the work The most Correct Astronomical Telescope, or the Universal Astronomical, Physical, Political and Economic calendar for 336 years (published in 1808).

In 1810, Mikhail Stepanovich returned to teaching and until the end of his life was a teacher of mathematics at Moscow University.

Views

At the end of his life, Mikhail Stepanovich Brankevich was closely associated with Masonic circles (he was especially close to M. Nevzorov). At the same time, he criticized the existence of Masonic lodges, believing that the brotherhood should live in modesty.

Connections

Friend:

Maksim Ivanovich Nevzorov

References

• Russian writers. 1800-1917. Biographical Dictionary. Volume 1
  1989