PUSHKIN, ALEXANDER SERGEIVITCR, a Russian poet of good familv, was born at Moscow, May 26, 1799, and educated at the imperial lyceum of Tsarskoe Selo, where he acquired more reputation for his liberal opinions than for his attention to study. In 1817 he entered the service of government, and soon became one of the most prominent figures in fashionable society. In 1820 he published his romantic poem of Ras/an and Lietdmita, which met with a flattering reception from the public. The incidents are laid in the legendary times of Vladimir, the Russian Charlemagne. During the next five years Pushkin led a roving sort of life, in the course of which appeared his Karkaskol (Prisoner of the Caucasus, 1822), which narrates the escape of a young Rus sian from a Circassian horde by the help of a Circassian maid; and his Fountain. of Baklitchiserai (1824), a poem of singular beauty and interest. These were followed by Tzioni (The Gipsies, 1S27), a picture of wild gypsy life in Bessarabia, and Ergenii Orate gin (1898), a humorously sarcastic description of Russian society—after the fashion of Byron's Beppo. In 182-9 lie published his last narrative poem, Pultara, which has for its
hero Mazeppa, the famous Hetman of the Cossacks. About the same time, he wrote a. dramatic poem entitled Boris Godunov, one of the best of all his works; hut subsequent to this he appears to have addicted himself almoAt wholly to prose. Another, and less commendable ehange, however, took place in him. From being or seeming au enthu siastic "liberal," he passed—after his appointment to the office of imperial historiogra pher. with a pension of 6,000 rubles—to the extreme of Russian conservatism. The chief thing he did in his official capacity was to write the life of the rebel Pugatschew. He was mortally wounded in a duel, and expired at St. Petersburg, Jan. 20 1837. Pushkin is reckoned the finest poet that Russia has produced in the present cen tury. His countrymen call him the " Russian Byron," and he has not a little of the. hold and. brilliant genius of his prototype, excelling like him in vigor of imagery and impassioned sentiment.