Vadim Petrovich Shakherov,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Fate of the Irkutsk Merchant Ivan Bechevin in the Context of the Relationship Between Government and Siberian Entrepreneurship in the Middle of the 18th Century
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2023-5-18
The article tells about the tragic fate of the Irkutsk merchant Ivan Bechevin, who faced the arbitrariness and extortion by the crown authorities. He was one of the richest Siberian merchants, engaged in wine buying in the Lena Region, participated in projects for the commercial development of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Being an active member of the city society, he was engaged in charity work. At his expense, three churches were built in Irkutsk. Everything collapsed in one piece. Having come under investigation for wine purchases, he was tortured, and died. The merchant’s capital and property were confiscated. His particular case clearly shows that the presence of property, capital, influence in society in no way guaranteed the observance of basic human rights and even life. Nevertheless, such blatant arbitrariness of the authorities could not remain without consequences and was used by the merchants as an excuse to declare their rights and guarantees for property and life. Protests against lawlessness contributed to the consolidation of the estate, the development of certain requirements and civil rights. Given the growing role of entrepreneurship in the country’s economy, in an effort to protect the merchant class from the most egregious cases of arbitrariness, the government was forced to take certain steps to find a social compromise and partnership, endowing the elite of the third estate with elementary civil rights and guarantees.
Publishing: 28/10/2023
The article has been received by the editor on 14/03/2023
How to cite: Shakherov V.P. The Fate of the Irkutsk Merchant Ivan Bechevin in the Context of the Relationship Between Government and Siberian Entrepreneurship in the Middle of the 18th Century // Historical Courier, 2023, No. 5 (31), pp. 251–261. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2023/ISTKURIER-2023-5-18.pdf]
Links: Issue 5 2023
Keywords: Siberia; Irkutsk; Russian America; merchants; merchant estate rights; fur trades; wine buying; arbitrary power