On this day

On this day

Birthday anniversary of Vasily Fedorovich (Willim Ferdinandovich) Mertens, military leader and statesman, governor of Olonets Province

19 March 1761

Vasily Fedorovich (Willim Ferdinandovich) Mertens was born on March 8 (19), 1761, in a family of Prussian immigrants. His father, Friedrich Khristoforovich, was a field officer in the Russian army. Vasily Mertens began his service in 1773 as a soldier in the Dinaburg Border Battalion. Then, he was a non-commissioned officer in the Preobrazhensky and Life-Guard Horse regiments. From 1784, he used to be a lieutenant of the Chevalier Guard Corps, from 1790 - the captain of the Yelets Infantry Regiment. Vasily Mertens participated in the Russian-Swedish war of 1788–1790. He resigned in 1790. In 1800, he was appointed vice-governor of Perm, and then - the governor of Tver Province.

The first State museum of national art opened in St.-Petersburg

19 March 1898

The idea to create in St.-Petersburg the museum of national Russian art had been discussed in noble milieu of the Russian society from the middle of 19th century but it was realized only in 1895 under the reign of Nicolai II, the son of Alexander III.

Submariner Day

19 March 1997

A native of the Pokrovskoye village near Moscow Yefim Nikonov was the first to create of a submarine vessel of the Russian fleet to attack enemy ships.