Background
Rubakin, Nikolai was born on July 13, 1862 in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov) into a rich merchant family.
bibliographer author book collector
Rubakin, Nikolai was born on July 13, 1862 in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov) into a rich merchant family.
Graduated in physics and mathematics, then in law from Petersburg University.
As a student, involved in revolutionary activity. Briefly arrested. In 1907, emigrated to Switzerland leaving his library (some 130,000 books) to the Russian League of Education. Sympathised with, but did not return to, the USSR. For nearly 30 years, closely connected with the Soviet government.
Shortly before his death gave his Western library of some 200,000 books, as well as his valuable archive, to the Lenin Library, Moscow. From 1930, received an honorary pension from the Soviet government.