Potr Alekseyev

Pyotr Alekseyev (1849, Moscow, Russian Empire – 27th of August/8th of September 1913, Riga, Russian Empire) – a physician, a writer; an assistant of the Governorate medical inspector in Transbaikalia (Chita, 1888-1895); an assistant of the Governorate  medical inspector in Livonia (Riga, 1895-1913).

Pyotr Alekseyev was born in Moscow into an old Moscow merchant family. He studied medicine at the Imperial Moscow University. Upon graduation, on May 31, 1872, he began his medical practice as an assistant at the therapeutic clinic of Imperial Moscow University. For about six years he worked in this and other Moscow hospitals, and in 1878 he was appointed resident physician at the Imperial Catherine Hospital in Moscow, a position he held for five years.

From 1883 to 1886 he had been serving as a zemstvo physician in the Serpukhov district. In addition, mainly for educational purposes and to study issues of public health, P. Alekseyev undertook a number of long journeys. First he visited Canada and the United States of America, then China and Japan.

Having become acquainted with foreign experience in hospital management, in the organization of the struggle against alcoholism, and seeing the importance of sobriety and moderation as well as the role of temperance societies, P. Alekseyev dedicated part of his activity, including public work and many of his writings, to the promotion of a sober way of life.

In 1888 he re-entered state service and was appointed assistant to the medical inspector of the Trans-Baikal Region, with his place of service in Chita. While working there, among other things, he was one of the initiators of the establishment of the Trans-Baikal Medical Society and the Chita branch of the Russian Geographical Society (1894), as well as of a library to which he donated several hundred books. In 1895 he was transferred from Chita to Riga to a similar position—as assistant to the provincial medical inspector. At that time, the Livonian provincial medical inspector was Dr. V. Aristov.

Alongside his official duties, Pyotr Alekseyev engaged in public activity and was a member of, or collaborated with, a number of public organizations. In the Baltic provinces he participated in the activities of the temperance society “Zarya” (Atturības biedrība “Auseklis”). Thanks largely to the composition of its members, the work of this society was especially visible among the Latvian population. It was called one of the most active and viable temperance societies in the Baltic region. It vigorously fought against alcoholism and promoted a sober way of life.

For its 10th anniversary in 1901, the Zarya Society opened its own alcohol-free restaurant at No. 5 St. Petersburg Highway (now Ropažu iela) in Riga (old numbering), naming it “Dining Hall and Tea Room.” It offered inexpensive and healthy food. In the same building was a library, a reading room, a bookshop; an amateur choir and a people’s theater were active there; a billiard room, a summer garden and other facilities were also available. Altogether this was known as the “People’s House,” organized under the chairmanship of magistrate A. Witte. In addition to P. Alekseyev, the committee of the society in 1901 included A. Buttel, A. Liepiņš, and inspector of public schools F. Treiland. In 1902 the society decided to establish a hospital for alcohol addicts. By 1903 the chairman of the society was F. Treiland.

Moreover, P. Alekseyev was a member of the Red Cross Society and the Society of Emergency Medical Aid, served on the board of the Children’s Home “Sile” (Bērnu patversme “Sile”), was a member of the Society for the Prevention of Beggary, and participated in the chair of the Charity Donations Committee. He also collaborated with other organizations, such as the Riga branch of the Russian Society for the Protection of Women, the Livonian Society for the Fight against Tuberculosis, and others.

Written works by P. Alekseyev

Pyotr Alekseyev was the author of a number of works on obstetrics, as well as works dedicated to the struggle against alcoholism. He also wrote a series of articles and essays based on his memoirs of travels in Transbaikalia, Yakutia, and the Far East. P. Alekseyev corresponded with Leo Tolstoy, who assisted him in publishing some of his works.

Leo Tolstoy was deeply concerned with issues of sobriety and abstinence. He spoke out not only against alcoholism but also against tobacco and drug addiction. Having read Alekseyev’s publications on this subject after his return from North America, Tolstoy highly appreciated these works, and active cooperation developed between them.

In December 1887, at Tolstoy’s initiative, the “Concord against Drunkenness” temperance society was founded. P. Alekseyev supported this undertaking.

Pyotr Alekseyev died in Riga on August 27/September 8, 1913, after a long and severe illness. The funeral liturgy was held at the Riga Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. P. Alekseyev was buried in Riga at the Pokrovskoye Cemetery.

In the obituary published on the front page of the illustrated supplement to the local German newspaper Rigasche Rundschau, was noted that P. Alekseyev was well known to the local residents not only for his official duties, but also for his wide-ranging interests, active involvement in social life, and sociable character. P. Alekseyev was a welcome figure in local public circles. Moreover, ру was a skilled player of Frederick the Great’s favorite instrument—the flute—which further enhanced his reputation in the eyes of the local public.

Alexandra Yakovleva, June 2021

Sources of information:

•   Rīga, «Behrnu patwersme «Sile»», Baltijas Vēstnesis № 58, 11.03.1902.
•   Городской дневник. «Общество трезвости «Заря» («Аусеклис»)», Рижский вестник №202, 13.09.1903.
•   Рижский вестник, «П. С. Алексеев» [Некролог], Рижский вестник № 28.08.1913.
•   Dr. Peter Ssemenowitsch Alexejew [Nachruf], Rigasche Rundschau: Illustrierte Beilage №9, 01.09.1913.
•   Алексеев П. С. «Якутск и его окрестности» (Воспоминания о поездке на северо-восток Сибири в 1891 г.): https://www.yakutskhistory.net
•   Энциклопедия Забайкалья, Алексеев Пётр Семёнович: http://ez.chita.ru/encycl/person/?id=1546