Viktor Ivanovich Astafiev

Background

Viktor Ivanovich Astafiev was born on November 6, 1808 in Kozelsky uyezd of Kaluga province (now Kaluga Oblast, Russian Federation). He was from Kaluga nobles.

Education

Viktor Ivanovich received a home education. He graduated from the philological Department of the Moscow University (1823-1826).

Career

Collaborated with the magazine "Moscow Telegraph", "Premonition". Has been publishing a poetry and excerpts from the poem "Exile" in the "Son of the Fatherland". Published a poem addressed to M. A. Dmitriev "Don't ask me in vain" in "Severnaya Lyra", which, after gaining it's popularity, had an influence on M. Y. Lermontov early works.

In 1828 of February, Viktor Ivanovich joined the service as a non-commissioned officer in the life guard of the Tsarevich's Ulan regiment. In 1828, he was transferred to the Orenburg Ulan regiment as a cornet. Viktor Ivanovich participated in the Polish campaign of 1831. From 1833 of December he was in life guards of the Ulan regiment, from 1834 a regimental adjutant; in early April 1839 he was dismissed due to illness with the rank of staff captain.

References

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