Danilov, Mikhail

Danilov, Mikhail (Kuz’ma) Vasil’evich 

Born 1722 in the village of Kharino, in present-day Venev Raion, Tula Oblast; died after 1790. Russian inventor in the field of artillery and pyrotechnics; he was also a memoirist.

After graduating from the St. Petersburg Artillery School in 1743, Danilov took part in the planning of fireworks and illuminations for festive occasions at court. Beginning in 1756, together with M. G. Martynov and other officers and technicians he worked on the construction of artillery guns and created the guns known as “Shuvalov unicorns” (after the field arsenal master General P. I. Shuvalov). In 1762, Danilov compiled and printed the first Russian course in artillery. and in 1777 he published a guide for the preparation of fireworks and illuminations, in which he also gave a brief account of the history of pyrotechnics in Russia. In his Notes, Danilov described the life and mores of provincial society of the 18th century.