Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova was a prominent figure in 18th-century Russia, born on March 17, 1743, into an influential diplomatic family in St. Petersburg. Educated privately by tutors, she developed a keen interest in the literary and journalistic culture of her time, contributing to the intellectual discourse of her era. Dashkova became a close associate of Empress Catherine II, and they collaborated on the literary journal "Sobesednik liubitelei Rossiisskogo slovo," which explored a range of topics including literature, politics, and philosophy.
Throughout her life, Dashkova maintained a distinct voice, especially evident in her memoirs, which she intended to remain unpublished until after her death. This allowed her to candidly discuss subjects that were otherwise considered unsuitable for public discourse. Her writings faced challenges, including censorship, as one of her manuscripts was confiscated by Russian authorities. After her passing on January 4, 1810, she was laid to rest at her family estate in Troitskii. Dashkova's legacy reflects her significant contributions to Russian literature and her unique position within the social and political circles of her time.
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Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova
President
- Born: March 17, 1743
- Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia
- Died: January 4, 1810
- Place of death: Moscow, Russia
Biography
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova was born into an influential diplomatic and political family in St. Petersburg on March 17, 1743. As was common in her social class, she was educated privately by tutors and did not attend a school. Part of her education involved trips to Western Europe. However, there is little evidence that she actually attended any schools while there. Rather, it is more probable that she continued to be instructed by private tutors, which would help protect her from what was then considered the “damaging” effects of being able to mix freely with people of lower social classes in a more open school. She quickly developed a strong interest in the journalistic culture of her age—that is, the community of literate people who contributed to the “thick” literary and scholarly journals of the time. Dashkova was a close associate and confidante of Empress Catherine II, called “the Great,” and they frequently exchanged observations on various aspects of high society. They also coedited a literary journal, Sobesednik liubitelei Rossiisskogo slovo (companion of lovers of the Russian word), which delved into matters literary, philological, political, and philosophical. Near the end of her life, Dashkova wrote her own memoirs with the understanding that they would not be published within her own lifetime. This stipulation permitted her to be candid about a number of topics that the propriety of the day would not have let her discuss had she been writing for publication. Since she had no real interest in publication, they went through a number of manuscripts before reaching their final form, and at least one version was taken by an English associate on a journey home and was confiscated and destroyed by Russian border guards who suspected Dashkova of trying to smuggle official documents out of the country. Dashkova was buried in Troitskii, her family estate, after her death on January 4, 1810.
