Advanced search

Nikolai Leskov was born in 1831, in Gorokhovo, Orel province, Russia. His parents belonged to Russian gentry and owned an estate with serfs. He was a Gymnasium student until the age of 15. In 1846 his father died and a disastrous fire destroyed the family estate and ruined him financially. Leskov served as a court clerk in Orel and in Kiev. In 1853 he married Olga Smirnova; they had two children and separated in 1860. His job at an English firm made him travel to remote regions of Russia, where he also collected the material for his writings.

Leskov absorbed the knowledge of the folk traditions and legends from his childhood. His exposure to vernacular speech of peasants has marked his highly original literary style. His writing career began in St. Petersburg, where he settled in 1861. Leskov published short stories with moderate liberal messages. His travels in Europe strengthened his opposition to the conservatives in Russia. His first novel "Nowhere" (Nekuda, 1864) was written in Prague. Leskov was critical of the Russian Orthodox Church for its rigid conservatism and it's corrupt clerics. His views caused him a loss of many publishing contracts, but Leskov was consistent in his independent position. He joined Lev Tolstoy in a call for separation of Church and State. That caused his dismissal after 10 years of exemplary work for the Imperial Department of Education. At that time he lived in a civil union with Katherina Bubnova. They had a son, Andrei Leskov, who became his biographer, and the keeper of the writer's archive.

Leskov was a master of colloquial Russian. He investigated the dark and mysterious sides of passion in "Lady Makbeth of Mtsensk" (1865). He explored religious piety of an Orthodox monk in "Enchanted Wanderer" (Zacharovanny Strannik, 1873). Leskov made literary portraits of the corrupt and drunk clerics of the Orthodox Church, weird revolutionaries, and terrible social conditions in Russia. His truthfulness triggered attacks on the writer from all parties, and he almost became a literary outcast. His masterpiece "Lefty" (The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea, 1881) was highly regarded by Maxim Gorky and Anton Chekhov, who considered Leskov his teacher. Conservative Russian press labeled Leskov a heretic for his vegetarianism, "organic life philosophy" and "love of the world". He was the disciple of Lev Tolstoy. Leskov died of a rare form of breast cancer that affects men. He was buried at the Volkovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.

James Abram Garfield was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his death six months later, two months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War general, he served nine terms in the House of Representatives and was the only sitting member of the House to be elected president. Before his candidacy for the White House, he had been elected to the Senate by the Ohio General Assembly, a position he declined when he became president-elect.

King Frederick III of Prussia was born on 18 October 1831 in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia [now Brandenburg, Germany]. He was married to Princess Royal Victoria. He died on 15 June 1888 in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia [now Brandenburg], Germany.

Ignatius Donnelly was born on 3 November 1831 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 1 January 1901 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Daniel Butterfield was born on 31 October 1831 in Utica, New York, USA. He died on 17 July 1901.

Djura Jaksic has studied fine arts in Vienna and Munich. He has been a teacher and professor in various towns in Serbia. He belongs to the most expressive representatives of Serbian romanticism. Passionate, of impetuous imagination, flamy emotions, rebellious and a freedom-lover, he has written, with romanticist pathos, songs about freedom, against tyranny, and verses of lyric confession full of deep pain (nevertheless, he also had nothing against dedicating a collection of poems to Knez Milan). He has written three dramas: "Stanoje Glavas", "Seoba Srba" and "Jelisaveta". He was one of the most talented Serbian painters of the XIX century and most prominent representative of romanticism in Serbian painting. He was buried as one of the most respected and loved artists of Belgrade.

Henri Meilhac was born on 21 February 1831 in Paris, France. He was a writer, known for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Carmen (1943) and So This Is Paris (1926). He died on 6 July 1897 in Paris, France.

Victorien Sardou was born on 5 September 1831 in Paris, France. He was a writer, known for Tosca (1956), Cleopatra (1912) and Princess Romanoff (1915). He was married to Marie Anne Corneille Soulié and Laurentine Éléonore Désirée de Moisson de Brécourt. He died on 8 November 1908 in Paris, France.

Prince Christian was born on 22 January 1831 in Augustenborg, Als Island, Denmark. He was married to Helena of Schleswig-Holstein. He died on 28 October 1917 in London, England, UK.

Eugène Ketterer was born on 7 July 1831 in Rouen, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France. Eugène died on 18 December 1870 in Paris, Ile-de-France, France.

Karl Blasel was born on 16 October 1831 in Vienna, Austria. He was an actor, known for Der Unbekannte (1912), Ein Walzertraum (1907) and Karl Blasel als Zahnarzt (1912). He was married to Johanna Wellen. He died on 16 June 1922 in Vienna, Austria.

Paolo Mantegazza was born on 31 October 1831 in Monza, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, Austrian Empire [now Monza, Lombardy, Italy]. Paolo was a writer, known for Un giorno a Madera (1924). Paolo died on 28 August 1910 in Lerici, Liguria, Italy.

Lewis H. Redner was born on 15 December 1831 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Lewis H. died on 29 August 1908 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

Álvares de Azevedo was born on 12 September 1831 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Álvares was a writer, known for Noite na Taverna (2014). Álvares died on 25 April 1852 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mary Mapes Dodge was born on 26 January 1831 in New York City, New York, USA. Mary Mapes was a writer, known for The Magical World of Disney (1954), Silver Skates (2020) and Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (1958). Mary Mapes was married to William Dodge. Mary Mapes died on 21 August 1905 in Onteora Park, New York, USA.

Ippolito Nievo was born on 30 November 1831 in Padua, Lombardy-Venetia, Austrian Empire [now Veneto, Italy]. He was a writer, known for La pisana (1960). He died on 4 March 1861 in at sea, off Italy.

Lajos Tolnai was born on 31 January 1831 in Györköny, Hungary. He was a writer, known for A pénzcsináló (1964), A megjavult adófelügyelö és más történetek (1972) and A Tógyer farkasa (1991). He died on 19 March 1902 in Budapest, Hungary.

Philip Sheridan was born on 6 March 1831 in Albany, New York, USA. He died on 5 August 1888 in Nonquitt, Massachusetts, USA.

Lorrin A. Cooke was born on 6 April 1831 in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 12 August 1902 in Winsted, Connecticut, USA.

Philippe Gille was born on 10 December 1831 in Paris, France. He was a writer, known for True Romance (1993), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003) and Before the Storm (2000). He died on 19 March 1901.

Wilhelm Raabe was born on 8 September 1831 in Eschershausen, Duchy of Brunswick [now Lower Saxony, Germany]. He was a writer, known for Die schwarze Galeere (1962), Die Gänse von Bützow (1985) and Die Gänse von Bützow (1960). He was married to Berta Emilie Wilhelmine Leiste. He died on 15 September 1910 in Brunswick, Duchy of Brunswick [now Lower Saxony], Germany.

Grenville Dodge was born on 12 April 1831 in Danvers, Massachusetts, USA. He was married to Ruth Anne Brown. He died on 3 January 1916 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA.