Mikhail Nikiforovich Katkov

Mikhail Nikiforovich Katkov (born Nov. 13 [Nov. 1, Old Style], 1818, Moscow—died Aug. 1 [July 20], 1887, Znamenskoye, near Moscow) was a Russian journalist who exercised a high degree of influence in government circles during the reigns of Alexander II (reigned 1855–81) and Alexander III (reigned 1881–94). After study at the Moscow University (graduated 1838) and the University of Berlin (1840–41), Katkov was an assistant professor of philosophy at Moscow (1845–50). In 1851 he became...