GRIBOYEDOV,
Alexander Sergyeevich, Russian dramatic writer: b. Mos cow, 4 Jan. 1795; d. 30 Jan. 1829. In his parental home he studied music and modern languages. He also was very fond of reading comedies. At the age of 15 he went to the university, accompanied by a tutor whose duty it was to prevent his association with persons of low rank. He studied law but was allowed to frequent also all other faculties where dis tinguished professors were lecturing. He had the good fortune in making friendship with Professor Bule who took a deep interest in him, broadened his horizon and, above all things, developed in him a strong love for dramatic poetry. He read Plautus, Terence and other Latin comic writers and finished with Molise and the later comical writers of France. In 1816 he was attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and thus made excellent con nections in Saint Petersburg society. After hav ing made a translation from French and other literatures he wrote a comedy, 'The Student' in which he derided, not without extravagant caricature, the affectations of sentimentality and romanticism. In his
Zaradovski on account of which he almost lost his diplomatic position. The misunderstand ings grew worse and he himself was on the point of fighting in a fresh duel when his mother used all her influence with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and caused her son's transfer as secretary of the Imperial Em-. bassy to Teheran. In Persia he studied the Arabian and Persian languages as also the dramatic works written in those languages. In 1821 he was sent to Tiflis to report on the war that had broken out between Persia and. Turkey and on his way to that city he fractured his arm. This accident was the cause of his im mediate transfer to the Foreign office at Saint Petersburg. During that time he wrote only insignificant verses and lost confidence in his dramatic ability. In 1828 he was appointed resi dent minister to the Persian Court. There he met his old friend Prince Chavchevaze whose daughter he married. On 30 Jan. 1829 a mob of about 100,000 Persians, headed by Griboye dov's personal enemy Alayar-Khan, attacked the Russian legation. Griboyedov fell mortally wounded while defending the embassy entrance against the fanatics.