XVIII CENTURY

1703

Founding of St. Petersburg.

The House of Peter I built. The Sea Port construction begins.

1704

Building of Kronschlot Fort at the Bay of Finland. Laying out the Summer Garden. Ground breaking for Admiralty Ship Yard.

1705

The Gostiny Dvor market and the Austeria Tavern built at Trinity Square. Constructing of a fortress at the Kotlin Island.

1706

Launching of the first warship built at the Admiralty Ship Yard. The wooden and earthen buildings of Peter and Paul's Fortress replaced by stone ones.

1707

Building of Kronwerk.

1708

St. Peter's Gate, the first wooden triumphal arch in the city, at Peter and Paul Fortress.

1709

Instituting of the Chancellery on Construction. The foundation of the St. Samson's Cathedral Church in wood laid at Vyborgskaya Side in memory of the victory at Poltava.

1710

Establishing of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Constructing of the Summer Palace of Peter I.

Constructing of the Menshikov's Palace at Vasilievsky Island. The first school in St. Petersburg, Petrischule, founded.

1711

Nevsky Prospect laid. Founding of Armoury and the first printing house in St. Petersburg.

1712

Wedding of Peter I and Martha Skavrenskaya (Catherine I) at the Trinity Cathedral. Capital formally transferred from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Building of St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral in stone, architect Domenico Trezzini.

1713

The Aptekarsky Garden laid out (current Botanical Garden).

1714

Peter I issues the Order prohibiting construction in stone all over Russia except St. Petersburg. Building of fountains and Monplaisir Palace in Peterhof. Founding of Kunstkammer, the first public museum in Russia.

1715

Building of the Okhta Powder-Mill. The Naval School (Naval Academy) transferred to St. Petersburg from Moscow.

1716

Opening of Czarina Natalia Alexeevna's theater. The King of Prussia gifts the Amber Room to Peter I.

1717

Architect Jean-Baptiste Leblon designs the general lay-out of St. Petersburg. "The Honest Mirror For Youth or Directions for Worldly Manners" written by Peter I. Building of the Annunciation Church at Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

1718

Tsarevich Alexey's execution in Peter and Paul's Fortress. Laying of Ladozhky Canal. The first Assembly takes place.

1719

Building of the Marine Hospital on the Vyborgskaya Side. Execution of Maria Gamilton. Death of Tsarevich Peter, the heir to the throne.

1720

Foundation of Okhtinskoy Admiralty. The first sugar factory in Russia starts manufacturing on Vyborgskaya Side. Building of Italian Palace in Kronschtadt.

 

1721

Celebration of the Nyschtadt Peace Treaty with Sweden. The Senate declares Peter I the Emperor. Completion of Ligovsky Canal construction. Building of Galernaya Harbour and Sestroretsk Arms Factory.

1722

The first coat of arms of St. Petersburg designed. Constructing of the Twelve Collegia building.

1723

The Imperial Guards moves to St. Petersburg. The Peterhof Great Cascade fountains turned on water. Building of the Gostiny Dvor market in stone on Vasilievsky Island.

1724

St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, the University and the Grammar School established. The remains of St. Alexander Nevsky interred at Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Foundation of the first meteorological station in Russia.

1725

Death of Peter the Great.

Catherine I comes to throne. The city population is about 40,000.

1726

The Supreme Secret Investigation Board instituted. The St. Petersburg Library of Academy of Sciences founded.

1727

Death of Catherine I. Peter II ascends throne. The first pontoon bridge over Bolshaya Neva River constructed. Alexander Menshikov taken under arrest and sent to Siberia.

1728

The Imperial Court moves to Moscow from St. Petersburg. The first edition of "the St. Petersburg Vedomosty". Building of St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

1729

Rebuilding of Peter and Paul's Fortress in stone supervised by Burghard Christoph Minich.

1730

Death of Peter II. Anna Ioannovna becomes the Impress. Establishing of the Artillery School.

1731

Opening of navigation on Ladozhky Canal. Building of Simeony the Righteous and Anna's Church.

1732

Anna Ioannovna Court moves back to St. Petersburg from Moscow. Opening of the Land Gentry Corps (the first Military Cadet Corps). Construction of the Main Apothecary.

1733

Construction of Peter and Paul's Cathedral completed.

1734

The Kunstcammer building completed. Death of Dominico Trezinni, the first architect of St. Petersburg.

1735

Building of St. Panteleymon's Church. The first opera in Russia, "The Power of Love And Hate" staged at the new Imperial Theater by Francesco Arayi.

1736

Creating of Annenschule of St. Anna's Lutheran Church. For the first time in Russia potato is planted in the Botanical Garden. Fire in Admiralty part of the city.

1737

Disastrous fire destroys more than thousand buildings of the Admiralty District. Establishing of the Commission on St. Petersburg construction. The area of St. Petersburg is divided into five city and four suburban parts.

1738

The reconstruction of Admiralty completed, architect Ivan Korobov. The St. Petersburg streets receive their first official names. Opening of the Dance School supervised by J.-B. Lande (current Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet).

1739

Design of the St. Petersburg left bank planning and construction approved.

1740

Lowest temperature -45°C registered. Buffoonery Masquerade and Wedding at the Ice House. Execution of Artemy Volynsky, Andrei Khruschev and Peter Eropkin. 

Anna Ioannovna's death. Two month old Ivan VI Antonovich declared the Emperor. Duke Baron taken under arrest and exiled. 

Завершена перестройка Петропавловской крепости в камне.

1741

Anna Leopoldovna and members of her family arrested, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ascends throne.

Mikhail Lomonosov returns to St. Petersburg after his education abroad. Building of Anichkov Palace.

1742

Burghard-Christoph Minich and A. Osterman exiled to Siberia. Duke Golschtein-Gottorpsky, appointed the heir to throne, (Peter III) arrives to St. Petersburg. The Twelve Collegia building completed.

1743

Zemtsov and Pietro-Antonio Trezzini. Opening of Nierenbach's German Theater.

1744

Building of the Nevskaya Porcelain Manufacture (current Lomonosov Factory).

1745

Rebuilding of the Great Palace in Peterhof, architect Francesco-Bartolommeo Rastrelli.

1746

Statue of Peter I in bronze, sculptor Carlo-Bartolommeo Rastrelli. Dmitri Vinogradov, Master of the Nevskaya Porcelain Manufacture, makes the first Russian porcelain sample.

1747

Fire at the Kunstcammer building demolishes the Gottorpsky Globus.

1748

Creation of the first Russian scientific chemical laboratory.

Building of Resurrection Novodevichy Nunnery (Smolny).

1749

Building of Vorontsov's Palace. The first St. Petersburg strike at Bolotnikov's Factory.

1750

Building of Sheremetev's Palace (Fountain Mansion). City population is about 95,000.

1751

Opening of Gulferding's German Theater.

1752

Opening of the Naval Cadet Corps. Fedor Volkov's Yaroslavl Theater performs in St. Petersburg. Rebuilding of the Great Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, architect Francesco-Bartolommeo Rastrelli.

1753

Building of St. Nicholas's Naval Cathedral and Ivan Shuvalov's Palace.

Completion of Stroganov's Palace.

1754

Constructing of the Winter Palace, architect Francesco-Bartolommeo Rastrelli. Completion of Anichkov Palace and Transfiguration Cathedral. The heir of the throne, Paul I, is born.

1755

The Amber Room decoration in the Great Palace of Tsarskoye Selo completed. St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences published a magazine, "Monthly Compositions for Benefit and entertainment".

1756

Fire destroys the Peter and Paul's Fortress bell-tower and its chime of bells. Completion of the Great Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.

1757

Academy of Fine Arts founded.

1758

Construction of the Tuchkov Bridge over Malaya Neva. The first book of Mikhail Lomonosov published.

1759

Foundation of Pages Corps. Opening of the first Russian haberdashery factory.

1760

Construction of the Church of Our Lady of Vladimir.

1761

Great fire in Meschansky Streets. Death of Elizaveta Petrovna, Peter III becomes the Emperor.

1762

Construction of the Winter Palace and St. Nicholas Naval Church completed. Foundation of the National Bank.

Palace revolution: Peter III dethroned and Assessed, Catherine II ascends.

1763

Construction of St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church and Tuchkov's Bujan.

1764

Assassination of Ivan Antonovich in Schlisselburg Fortress. Execution of Vasily Mirovich. Smolny Institute, the first Russian boarding school for noble girls opened. Mikhail Lomonosov accomplishes "The Battle of Poltava" mosaic picture. Catherine II purchases an art collection which begins the great Hermitage collection.

1765

Establishment of the Free Economic Society, the first Russian scientific society. Building of the Alexander Institute and Warehouses on the new Holland Island. Death of Mikhail Lomonosov in his mansion on the Moika River.

1766

Construction of Razumovsky's Palace completed. Building of Gatchina Palace. Etienne-Maurice Falconet, sculptor, arrives to St. Petersburg.

1767

"Mandate" of Catherine published. The Commission begins to work the new Code Project. Palace Embankment is clad in granite.

1768

Construction of the Chinese Palace in Oranienbaum completed. Building of the Marble Palace. Catherine is inoculated against smallpox. Establishment of Assignation Bank.

1769

Laying of Obvodny Canal begun. The Order of George the Victorious instituted.

1770

Opening of the "Foundling Home" for illegitimate and left children. Foundation of English Assembly.

1771

The St. Catherine Lutheran Church on Vasilievsky Island completed. Opening of the Maternity Hospital at the "Foundling Home", first in St. Petersburg. Building of the Grand (old) Hermitage.

1772

Opening of the Music Club, the first musical society in St. Petersburg. Marble landmarks are put along the way to Tsarskoye Selo.

1773

Foundation of the Mining School of the Berg Collegia (current Mining Institute). Nicholas Novikov heads the "Society for Books Printing". Denis Diderot comes to St. Petersburg.

1774

Katalnaya Gorka in Oranienbaum completed. Building of the Tchesmen Palace.

1775

Death of the Princess Elizaveta Tarakanova in Peter and Paul's Fortress. Construction of the Alexander Institute building and Small Hermitage completed.

1776

The Tchesmen Column in Tsarskoye Selo built. Constructing of the Kamennoostrovsky Palace and Trinity Cathedral in Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

1777

Great Flood (310 cm over the ordinary level registered). The Tchesmen Palace building completed. Foundation of the Cladding Factory in Peterhof. Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich is born (future Emperor Alexander I).

1778

The Nativity of John the Forerunner Church on the Stone Island completed. Catherine II purchases Voltaire's library.

1779

Construction of St. Anna's Lutheran Church on Kirochnaya Street completed. Opening of a private theater on Tsarina's Meadow. "Historical, Geographic and Topographic Description of St. Petersburg 1703 - 1751" of A.I. Bogdanov published.

1780

Construction of the St. Catherine Armenian Church on Nevsky Prospect, Tchesmen Church, Andreevsky Cathedral and New Holland completed. Opening of the Obukhovsky Hospital. The St. Petersburg coat of arms officially approved. The Fontanka Embankments are clad in granite

1781

Erecting of the St. Ilia the Prophet at the Okhta Powder-Mill Factory and Angliysky Palace in Peterhof. Publication of A.P. Sumarokov's complete works.

1782

Construction of St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church on Nevsky Prospect and Kamennoostrovsky Palace completed. Building of Paul's Palace, Sophiysky Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo and the Main Post-Office. Premiere of Fonvizin's "Ignoramus" at Karl Knipper's theater on Tsarina's Meadow. 

"The Horseman", monument to Peter I, on Senate Square unveiled.

1783

Opening of the Bolshoi Theater. The Russian Academy founded. Planning and laying out of Taurida Garden.

1784

The splendid grille of the Summer Garden completed. The population of the city is about 192,000.

1785

Construction of the Grand Gostiny Dvor market on Nevsky Prospect, the Marble Palace and St. Ilia the prophet completed. The first magazine for children, "Children Readings for Heart and Mind" published.

1786

Foundation of the Navigation School for merchandising seafaring. Construction of the Pavlovsky Palace completed.

1787

The City Duma building, Neva Gate in Peter and Paul's Fortress, Camerron gallery in Tsarskoye Selo, Grand (Old) Hermitage and Hermitage Theater completed.

1788

Construction of the Academy of the Fine Arts building, St. Sofia Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo and Granite Angliyskaya Embankment completed.

1789

Construction of Taurida Palace completed. 

Construction of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, the Main Post-Office and The Nikolsky Market completed. Publishing of "The Mail of Spirits" magazine of Ivan Krylov.

1790

Arrest and exile of Alexander Radischev caused by publication of "Travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow". 

Construction of Trinity Cathedral at Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Assignation Bank and Andreyevsky Market completed.

1791

Magnificent celebration given in Taurida Palace in honor of capture the Turkish fortress Izmail.

1792

First Russian medical magazine, "St. Petersburg Vrachebny Vedomosty" edited. Death of Denis Fonvizin, the first Russian playwriter. Building of Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo begun.

1793

Order prohibiting import of newspapers, magazines and other editions to Russia from France issued. First edition of Ivan Krylov's magazine "Mercury".

1794

St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences publishes 1st edition of the Russian Defining Dictionary. Publication of "Description of Russian Imperial Capital City of St. Petersburg and Memorable Places in Suburbs of Its" by Johann Georgii.

1795

Foundation of the Imperial Public Library. Nicholas Karamzin edits the first Russian almanac "Aonides".

1796

Construction of the Angliysky Palace in Peterhof and Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo completed. The Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich is born (future Emperor Nicholas I). Death of Catherine II, Paul I becomes the Emperor.

1797

Building of Mikhail Palace begun.

1798

Paul I accepts the title of St. Johann Jerusalem Grossmeister Order. Foundation of the Medical and Surgery Academy. Publication of Gavriila Derzhavin's "Compositions".

1799

Foundation of the Russian-American Company. Founding of the Alexander's Manufacture, the first mechanical paper factory in Russia. Rumiantsev's Obelisk on the Tsarina's Meadow erected. Completion of the Prioratsky Palace in Gatchina. Building of the Mint in Peter and Paul's Fortress.

1800

Order prohibiting import of foreign books to Russia. Death of Alexander Suvorov.

Monument to Peter I in front of Mikhail Palace unveiled. Population of the city is about 220,000.

The Mikhail Palace building completed.