Speransky, Mikhail, Count

Speransky, Mikhail (Mikhaylovich), Count

(born Jan. 12, 1772, Cherkutino, Russia—died Feb. 23, 1839, St. Petersburg) Russian politician. After teaching at the seminary in St. Petersburg, he entered government service. He served as an assistant to Tsar Alexander I (1807–12), but his proposed financial and administrative reforms angered the nobles, who had him exiled (1812–16). He returned to government service, serving as governor-general of Siberia (1819–21). A member of the state council from 1821 under Nicholas I, he compiled the first complete collection of Russian law (1830). He was given the title of count in 1839.