GRIBOYEDOV, ALEXANDER SERGIEVICH, a Russian poet and diplomatist, was born at Moscow about 1793, studied at the university of that capital, and in 1810 took a preliminary degree in the ethico-political branch. When the war of invaslou broke out in 1812, he quitted his studies to take a cornetcy in a regiment of hussars, and continued with the army till the successful Issue of the campaign of 1815. He then went to St. Petersburg, where be became acquainted with the dramatic poet fthmelnitzky, and was concerned in some trifling dramatic efforts. In 1817 he entered the diplomatic service, and In the following year was sent as secretary to the Russian embassy in Persia, where he succeeded in engaging the especial favour of Prince Abbas Mirza, who procured for him, from his father the Shah, the Persian order of the Lion and Sun. Of the modern Persian he made himself such a master as to be able to compose Persian verse,. At the same time he studied English at the Eoglish embassy, and became noted for his thorough acquaintance with English, Ger man, and French, as well as a leas perfect knowledge of Latin and Italian. While residing in Georgia he composed a comedy, to which he gave the name of 'Gore of Uma,' which may be rendered ' The Misfortune of Cleverness.' It was circulated in manuscript in 1823, and for many subsequent years, the author being unwilling to submit it to the ordeal of the censorship. The plot is Inartificial, but there has been but one voice as to the excellence of the character, the dialogue, and the language. The characters are chiefly the repre sentatives of classes, the old courtier of Catherine the Second, the young liberal of modern Rossi., Ste. • the dialogue is lively and spirited in the highest degree, and the language Is so remarkably idiomatic and appropriate, that many of the expressions have passed into proverbs. It has been pronounced the best picture of Russian society in exist ence, and bitter as is its tone, as bitter as that of Byron on English society, its popularity was so great, that it is said it was difficult to find a person of any social pretensions who did not know large portions of it by heart.
When the abortive conspiracy of December 1825 broke out on the accession of Nicholas, Griboyedov was at once suspected as a member of the liberal party, and summoned from Georgia, where be was then employed, to make his defence. The emperor, who of course had heard of his comedy, had a curiosity to see him in person, and after an interview he was dismissed with favour. When the war broke out with Persia he resigned his diplomatic for military duties, and made the campaign with Prince Paskevich, who was his kinsman, and who, on concluding the war in 1323, with the treaty of Turkmanohai, so disastrous for Persia, sent Griboyedov to St. Petersburg with the news. On the final conclusion of the peace, Griboyedov was named Minister Plenipotentiary at the Persian court. A dark presentiment made him receive the appointment with marked unwillingness. He said repeatedly to his friends, I am going to my grave. I feel that I shall never see Russia again." His words were fatally verified. On the 12th of February 1829 the populace of Teheran, enraged, it is said, by some fugitive Armenians being harboured by the Russian embassy, made an attack on the house, and massacred the together with all the persons connected with the embassy, and all the Russian merchants in the city whom they could lay their hands on. The murdered body of Griboyedov was dragged through the streets at a horse's tail.
In the year 1832 the Emperor Nicholas gave his special permission for the publication of 'Gore of and for its representation on the stage, with a few omissions. Its reputation has rather increased than otherwise, and it Is now generally acknowledged as the head of Russian comedy. Griboyedov had other works in preparation,' of which he had read portions to his friends, and of which they augured highly, but they perished with their author in the outbreak at Teheran. His works, which were collected and published at St. Petersburg, a few years back, with a life by Bulgaria, occupy but one small volume, which is regarded as a Russian classic.