Alexander Bulygin
Alexander Bulygin (3rd/15th of June 1842, Kazan Governorate, Russian Empire – 4th/17th of April 1904, Yazykovo, Spassky Uyezd, Kazan Governorate, Russian Empire) – a public figure, a vice-governor of Livonia Governorate (1892–1901), a landowner.
A. Bulygin was born into an old Russian noble family in Kazan Governorate. He received his education at the Nicholas School for Guards Junkers (known as the Nicholas Cavalry School from September 1864).
He began his military service in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment with the rank of ensign. He was commissioned as an officer in 1864.
In 1874, he was elected a justice of the peace in Kazan Governorate. He held this position until 1887, when he was elected Marshal of the Nobility of Spassk Uyezd, Kazan Governorate. He remained in this office until 1892.
By Order No. 42 of the Ministry of the Interior, dated 19 December 1892, A. Bulygin was appointed Vice-Governor of Livonia Governorate, effective from 10 December.
Although A. Bulygin had no administrative experience at the beginning of his service, he deputised for the Governor of Livonia, M. Zinovyev, under his guidance. On official business, A. Bulygin received visitors at his apartment at 26 Novaya Street (Jaunā iela), while other visitors were received on a designated day at the premises of the Governorate Administration.
On 6 December 1895, A. Bulygin was promoted to the rank of Actual State Councillor.
In 1901, he spent an extended period on leave abroad, seeking to restore his health first in Nauheim, Germany, and then in Switzerland. However, the treatment proved unsuccessful, and news of his resignation arrived in November.
Aleksey von Bellegarde, an Actual State Councillor, was appointed Vice-Governor of Livonia in place of A. Bulygin.
Following A. Bulygin’s resignation, articles about him appeared in the newspaper Pribaltiysky Krai (The Baltic Region) and other local newspapers, including Düna Zeitung and Dienas Lapa. Among other things, these articles described the characteristic qualities of the former Vice-Governor of Livonia.
According to his contemporaries, A. Bulygin tended to rely on tradition and the established order in conducting official affairs. He held firm convictions and clearly defined views that were not swayed by every new trend in society. He expressed his opinions openly and directly, without concern for the impression he might make, while recognising that his views might find no response or might be misunderstood. Nor was he inclined to compromise. For these reasons, A. Bulygin had many opponents.
The articles emphasised his honesty and integrity, as well as his determination to defend the interests of the state and oppose self-serving interests—not only among his subordinates but also among those who were not directly subordinate to him.
A Russian Orthodox Christian deeply rooted in the traditions of his people, he was nevertheless far removed from ostentatious displays of patriotism. He had little sympathy for the high-flown rhetoric of the “Russifiers”, believing that the conduct of some of them damaged the prestige of Russian officials serving in the borderlands of the Russian Empire.
A. Bulygin’s known decorations included:
- Order of St. Anna, 2nd Class
- Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Class
- Order of St. Stanislaus, 2nd Class
- Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd Class and others.
Alexander Bulygin died on 4 April 1904 at his estate in Yazykovo, Kazan Governorate. A notice of his death in the Riga newspaper Düna Zeitung also stated that, owing to his noble principles, A. Bulygin had enjoyed the general respect of those who knew him and left behind fond memories.
On 11 April 1904, a memorial service for Alexander Bulygin, who had died on 4 April, was held at the Castle Church of the Dormition in Riga.
Notable Relatives
Parents
His father was Nikolai Bulygin, and his mother was Sofia Bulygina, née Molostvova.
N. Bulygin was a landowner, public figure and colonel who served as head of the Kazan Governorate Gendarmerie Administration. The Bulygin family had many children.
Wife
Maria Bulygina, née Mertvago.
Alexander and Maria also had a large family.
Alexandra Yakovleva
Sources of information:
- Inland. Der neuernannte Livländische Vice-Gouverneur, Zeitung für Stadt und Land, № 2, 04.01.1893.
- Внутренние дела. О новом лифляндском вице-губернаторе г. Булыгине, Рижский вестник № 2, 04.01.1893.
- Часть официальная. Ведомости Рижской городской полиции № 10, 14.01.1893.
- Городской дневник. Рижский вестник № 102, 08.05.1897.
- Alexander Nikolajewitsch Bulygin [Biografie+Foto, Phot. von Eggert], Rigasche Rundschau: Illustrierte Beilage № 4, 01.04.1901.
- Городской дневник. Лифляндский вице-губернатор д. с. с. Булыгин. Рижский вестник № 224, 09.10.1901.
- Inland. Dem ehemaligen livländischen Vicegouverneur A. N. Bulygin. Düna Zeitung № 2, 03.01.1902.
- Laikrakstu apskats. Bijušo Vidzemes vicegubernatoru A. N. Buliginu. Dienas Lapa (Rīga, Petrograda) № 3, 04.01.1902.
- Lokales. Wirklicher Staatsrat A. N. Bulygin, Düna Zeitung № 78, 06.04.1904.
