Great Russia project about Peter the Great's personal turner

On March 28 (New style), 1693, Andrei Konstantinovich Nartov was born. He was a personal turner, engineer, mechanic, and inventor, as well as the inventor of the lathe. Information about Nartov has been added to the Outstanding Scientists and Inventors of the 18th Century section of the Great Russia project, which is implemented by the Presidential Library.

The exact origin of Andrei Konstantinovich is unknown – it is assumed that he was among the posadniks. At the age of 16, he started working as a turner at the Moscow School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences.

In 1712, Peter the Great invited him to St. Petersburg, where he worked in his own palace as a highly skilled turner. During his time there, Nartov created and built several mechanized machines to copy bas-reliefs and works of art. Around 1718, Peter sent Nartov to Prussia, Holland, France, and England to further his skills in turning and learn more about mechanics and mathematics.

Having learned about Nartov's achievements, the president of the Paris Academy of Sciences, Abbot Binyon, wrote to Peter the Great: "His unwavering dedication to mathematical studies, the remarkable successes he has achieved in mechanics, particularly in the field of lathe work, and his other admirable qualities lead us to believe that in all matters, your majesty is not mistaken in your choice of subjects you deign to enlist in your service." This quotation is taken from Nartov's Tales of Peter the Great, published in the Collected Works of the Department of Russian Language and Literature at the Imperial Academy of Sciences (1873) and available on the Presidential Library's portal.

After Nartov returned from abroad, Peter appointed him to run his workshop, which he soon expanded and equipped with new machines he had imported from abroad. The workshop was located next to the royal chambers, and the tsar often used it as his study, so Nartov's relationship with Peter was close. One day, Nartov recalls, Peter noticed him dozing off behind the drawings at night with a candle burning nearby. Peter said, Your diligence is commendable, Andrey, but added, Just don't set fire to the palace! When Nartov asked Peter to be the godfather to his newborn son, Peter agreed and turned to Empress Catherine with a smile, See, Katenka, my turner does a good job at home.

In 1717, Andrey Nartov invented the world's first lathe and screw-cutting device with a mechanized caliper and a set of interchangeable gears. This invention was later forgotten, but around 1800, the British engineer Henry Maudslay reinvented the turning and screw-cutting lathe with a mechanical caliper and guitar of interchangeable gears.

Andrey Konstantinovich not only improved machine tools and turning, in the same year, 1717, he began to train mechanics and turners, without leaving engineering. In particular, Peter the Great instructed Nartov to "come up with mechanical ways to chop stone easier and more directly" for the Kronstadt Canal, and in 1722 Nartov built a machine for drilling fountain pipes laid in Peterhof.

In the same year, Nartov presented a project to Peter the Great for the establishment of an Academy of Arts. However, it was not implemented until decades later - the Academy of Arts was founded in 1757 by order of Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter.

After the death of Peter, Nartov's situation deteriorated. He was forced to move to Moscow, where he worked on mints. During this period, he created several original mechanisms for printing presses and wrote a book on the operation of minting.

With his return to St. Petersburg, a new chapter begins in the life of Andrei Nartov. During this time, he created a machine for boring gun barrel channels and turning trunnions, which led to significant improvements in gun production. The Senate recognized the talented inventor and awarded him the rank of collegiate adviser, doubling his salary. In 1742, Nartov became an advisor, and in 1754, he was promoted to general state adviser at the Academy of Sciences, where he collaborated with L. Euler and M. Lomonosov.

Andrey Nartov was the first artillery engineer, who created new machines and proposed new methods for casting guns and sealing shells in their barrels. He also invented an original optical sight. His 44-barrel mortar battery, created in 1754, includes several interesting design solutions and can be seen in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers, and Signal Corps.

Nartov is also rightfully considered the founder of Russian metrology, as he created the first Russian standards for measuring length and weight.

Together with Peter the Great's court architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, he also created permanent slides with a 270-meter track in Tsarskoe Selo in 1757, which became known as the Russian Slides in Europe, although they were originally called "American".

In 1755, Andrei Konstantinovich Nartov completed the manuscript for his book Theatrum Machinarium, or The Clear Spectacle of Machines, an encyclopedia of machine tool construction and medal and turning art from the first half of the 18th century. Nartov wanted to make the book accessible to all turners, mechanics, and designers, but it was never published during his lifetime.

After Nartov's death, there were significant debts as many of his projects were funded from his personal resources. His grave was forgotten and it wasn't until 1950 when it was discovered. That same year, Nartov's remains were transferred to the Lazarevskoe Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and placed next to Mikhail Lomonosov's grave.

The Great Russia project, which is available on the Presidential Library's portal, is divided into several sections. One of these sections contains information about scientists and inventors from the 17th to 20th centuries. The other section focuses on cultural figures, including writers, poets, artists, architects, composers, musicians, and dancers from the 18th and 19th centuries. There is also a section dedicated to prominent military figures.

The project is continuously updated with new biographies of outstanding Russians who have made significant contributions to various fields and were ahead of their time. These individuals have contributed to the development of both Russian and world science and culture.