Witte Sergei

Witte Sergei (1849-1915), Russian statesman. Born in Tbilisi, he received primary education at home, being trained by the invited tutors. Thereupon he graduated from the Tbilisi Classical School for boys. At the same time he attended the musical classes organized by the musicians of Italian orchestra, staying in Tbilisi.

In 1866 S. Witte’s family moved to Odessa. In 1870 S. Witte graduated from the Novorossiya (Odessa) University and was appointed the chief of railway traffic at the Odessa railway. Starting from 1889 he served at the Ministry of Finance as the Director of Railway Department. From 1892 he filled the position of the Minister of Roads, later he held the office of the Minister of Finance.

For more than 20 years S. Witte used to perform his job at the high political spheres of Russian Empire. He was a member of the inner circle at the Emperor’s Court (first – during the rule of Alexander III, then – in the 1st half of the reign of Nicholas II). He had considerable influence over Russian domestic and foreign policy as well as over the development of the industry in the country. He initiated introduction of wine monopoly (1894), building of Siberian railway, implementation of monetary reform (1897). He encouraged the attraction of foreign capital to Russia (including investments in metal mining industry in Tbilisi and Kutaisi provinces) and participated in elaboration of agricultural programs. S. Witte opposed the war against Japan, which occasioned his reduction to the position of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers. He headed the delegation that signed the Portsmouth Peace Agreement with Japan (1905), for which Nicholas II bestowed on him the title of a Count. From October of 1905 to April of 1906 he headed the Council of Ministers. On April 16, 1906 S. Witte retired, although he retained the position of the member of State Council and Chairman of Financial Committee. In 1907–1912 he published the Memoirs, where he remembered his youthful years, spent in Tbilisi.

S. Witte was buried in Petersburg, at the Lazarev cemetery in the Alexander Nevski laura.