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The Demidovs (''Демидовы'') were probably the richest Russia n people after the Tsar in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Their progenitor, Demid Antufiev, was a free blacksmith from Tula , where their family necropolis is preserved as a museum. His son Nikita Demidov ( March 26 , 1656 - November 17 , 1725 ) made his fortune by his skill in the manufacture of weapons, and established an iron foundry for the government. Peter The Great , with whom he was a favorite, ennobled him in 1720. For two centuries, the Demidov plants produced a large portion of Russia's iron and steel. The Palace Of Westminster was one of many notable buildings constructed of Demidov metal products. Nikita's son, Akinfiy Demidov (1678-1745), increased his inherited wealth by the discovery and working of gold, silver and copper mines. He also founded the Siberia n town of Barnaul , whose central square still bears his name. His nephew, '''Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov''' (1738-1821), was a great traveller and benefactor of Russian scientific education who befriended Linnaeus and Pallas . He established the Demidov Lyceum in Yaroslavl , the Demidov chair in Natural History at Moscow University , and founded an annual prize for Russian literature, awarded by the Academy Of Sciences . A bronze monument to him was installed in Yaroslavl in 1828 . .]] Pavel's nephew, Nikolay Nikitich Demidov (1774-1828), fought in the Finnish War with distinction, raised and commanded a regiment to oppose Napoleon's Invasion Of Russia , and carried on the accumulation of the family wealth from mining; he contributed liberally to the erection of four bridges in St Petersburg , and to the propagation of scientific culture in Moscow. Pavel's son, Anatole Demidov (1812-1870), was a well-known traveller and patron of art. In 1837 , he acquired the Italia n title of Prince de San Donato and married Princess Mathilde , daughter of Jerome Bonaparte . His Villa is a minor landmark of Florence . His grand nephew, Crown Prince Pavel , was regent of Yugoslavia between 1934 and 1941 . in Taitsy near Gatchina (1773-76) was designed by his brother-in-law, Ivan Starov .]] SEE ALSO
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