Vladimir Grigoryevich Benediktov was a Russian romantic poet and translator.
Background
Vladimir Grigoryevich Benediktov was born November 5, 1807, in Saint Petersburg City, Russian Federation and spent his early years in Petrozavodsk where his father, a minor nobleman and a descendant of an old clergymen's family received a post in a local governor's office.
Education
After studying in the Olonets gymnasium, Vladimir Grigoryevich joined the Second Cadet Corps military school in Saint Petersburg in 1821.
Career
After five years of the army service (in the course of which he took part in suppressing the 1830 Polish Uprising) Vladimir Grigoryevich retired and in 1832 joined the Ministry of Finance as a clerk, giving his spare time to three hobbies: mathematics, astronomy and writing poetry.
Benediktov's debut poetry collection released in 1835 brought him success and fame. In 1838 Benediktov's second book became a best-seller, with 3 thousand copies sold, a huge number for the Russian literary market of the time. In 1860-1870s Benediktov's poetry became less flashy and more introspective. In 1855 Vladimir Grigoryevich became a Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences' member. In 1856 The Complete Beneditov in 3 volumes came out, re-issued and expanded a year later and featuring a foreword by editor Yakov Polonsky.