Gavriil Gagarin

Gavriil Petrovich Gagarin
Gavriil Petrovich Gagarin
Born	Template:Birth date
Died	January 31, 1808 (aged 63); Bogoslovskoye village, Dmitrovsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate
Occupation(s)	Author, senator, government minister
Known for	Russian Freemasonry leadership, Minister of Commerce

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Gavriil Gagarin, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Prince Gavriil Petrovich Gagarin (January 20, 1745 – January 31, 1808, Bogoslovskoye village, Dmitrovsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate) was a distinguished Russian author, senator, and government minister originating from the Gagarin family. He achieved the rank of Active Privy Councillor in 1800 and held significant positions under Paul I as a member of the Imperial Council, and later under Alexander I as Minister of Commerce. Gagarin was also a leading figure in Russian Freemasonry, standing alongside influential personalities such as Peter Tatishchev, Nikolay Trubetskoy, and Nikolay Novikov.

Biography

Gavriil was born to Prince Peter Ivanovich Gagarin and Anna Mikhailovna, the daughter of Kiev’s Governor-General Mikhail Leontiev. Benefiting from the support of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, he embarked on an educational journey across Europe in 1771–1772. Traveling under the alias Penzin with relatives Alexander Kurakin and Nikolai Sheremetev, he visited cities including Leiden, Antwerp, Brussels, Calais, London, and Paris. Upon his return to Russia in 1773, he volunteered for service in the Russo-Turkish War and was promoted to prime major following Pyotr Rumyantsev’s recommendation. By 1774, he had attained the rank of Chamber Junker.

His career progressed steadily: in 1781 he was appointed chief procurator of the 6th Senate Department in Moscow; two years later he became chamberlain; and by 1793 he had been named senator. Despite his official roles, Gagarin maintained a lavish lifestyle and was involved in dubious financial activities. Fyodor Rostopchin characterized him as a "businessman burdened by debts and having lost all credibility."

Through connections with Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich via relatives Panin and Alexander Kurakin, Gagarin acted as their intermediary in correspondence. His influence increased during Paul I’s reign; thanks to his friendship with Pyotr Lopukhin—the father of the tsar’s favorite—he secured a position on the imperial council. In 1797, he was awarded the Alexander Ribbon and had debts amounting to 300,000 rubles settled by the treasury. He received the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1799 and subsequently served as chief director of the State Loan Bank before becoming President of the Collegium of Commerce until 1801. From 1800 onward, he held the title of Active Privy Councillor.

Under Emperor Alexander I beginning in 1801, Gagarin maintained his court presence and participated in the Commission of Laws. He contributed to initiatives aimed at settling southern Siberia and advancing mulberry cultivation—co-authoring a report in 1800 with Peter Obolyaninov focused on improving mulberry production—and played a role in negotiating a trade treaty with Sweden in 1801. As a member of the Permanent Council, he owned distilleries that supplied wine to state coffers.

He spent his final years at his estate in Bogoslovskoye village within Dmitrovsky Uyezd, Moscow Governorate, where he was interred in the local church.

Freemasonry

Prince Gagarin was an influential leader within Freemasonry. Between 1775 and 1777, he held the position of honored master at the Equality Lodge. After traveling to Sweden in 1779, he assumed the role of Grand Master of Russia’s "Great National Lodge" operating under the Swedish system. In 1780, he became great prefect of the "Phoenix" chapter located in St. Petersburg. Upon relocating to Moscow in 1781, he established the Provincial Lodge and later headed the "Sphinx" lodge. Beginning in 1782, he also joined the philanthropic "Friendly Scientific Society." At the dawn of the nineteenth century, Gagarin resumed active participation in Freemasonry through involvement with the Lodge "The Dying Sphinx," where he delivered orations.

Awards

Order of Saint Anna 1st degree (1786)
Order of Saint Vladimir 2nd degree (1786)
Alexander Ribbon (1797)
Order of St. Andrew (1800)

Marriage and children

In 1775, Gagarin entered into matrimony with Praskovya Fedorovna Voeikova (1757–1801), the daughter of Fedor Matveevich Voeikov, Governor-General of Kiev. Their union produced one son and five daughters. Praskovya passed away at the age of 44 in Serpukhov and was interred at Moscow’s Novospassky Monastery.

Pavel (1777–1850) – served as Major General and Director of the Inspection Department; initially wed to Anna Lopukhina
Maria (1778–1835) – spouse of Brigadier Alexander Vislenev
Elena (1780–1842) – remained unmarried
Varvara (1781–1808) – absconded in 1802 with landowner Alexander Sigunov; subsequently married with Gagarin’s consent
Anna (known as nun Joanna) (1782–1856) – married Pavel Vasilyevich Golovin; established a women’s dormitory that evolved into Spaso-Vlakhernsky Convent
Catherine (1783–1861) – married Nikita Sergeevich Dolgoruky

Writings

Gagarin engaged actively in literary pursuits and maintained correspondence with Metropolitan Platon, who esteemed both his devotion and his written works. Archbishop Theophylact dedicated his 1787 treatise "The Mirror of the Hottest Spirit to the Lord God" in Gagarin’s honor. He was also connected with Juvenal (Voeikov), the hegumen of Korniliev Monastery.

In 1798, several of his theological and philosophical compositions were released by the Synodal Printing House:

"Akathist to the Apostle and Evangelist John"
"Akathist including service and life of St. Dimitry of Rostov"
"Service to the Venerable Theodosius of Totemsky, accompanied by accounts of his life and miracles" (published in 1798 and again in 1806)

The 1820 Mural of Russian Books by Vasily Plavilshchikov credits Gagarin as the author of Erotic Poems, which were issued posthumously by his son Pavel in 1811. His autobiographical reflections appeared in 1813 under the title "The Fun of My Solitude in the Village of Bogoslovsky."

Sources