Matvey Muravyev

Matvey Ivanovich Muravyev (Russian: Матвей Иванович Муравьёв;March 24, 1784 – September 27, 1836) was a Russian explorer and chief manager of the Russian-American Company.

Career

Muravyev was a graduate of the Sea Cadet Corps.^[1] Eventually he gained a commission as Lt. Commander on 12 October 1820 in the Imperial Russian Navy. In the same year he was appointed to direct the Russian-American activities as chief manager.

Judged to be "an able administrator in a difficult time", Muravyev oversaw a growth of company operations. Sitka Tlingits were allowed to return to their traditional residential areas, after previously been forced out under previous chief manager Aleksandr Baranov. Tlingit dwellings were constructed directly outside the New Archangel palisade and under "strict rules" established by Muravyev, continual trade gave New Archangel "a better standard of living."^[2] Construction of the first hospital founded by Russians in North America began during his tenure.^[2] Muravyev began a practise adopted as company procedure, for the chief manager to tour the scattered company stations, including those located in the Andreanof Islands.^[2]

During Muravyev's tenure, the Russian American stations faced difficulty in securing provisions. Several company ships either sank or became unseaworthy while sailing from Kronstadt in 1821, leaving only the small Riurik to arrive with a minor amount of supplies. News soon reached Muravyev that the company incorrectly felt New Archangel was well provisioned and no further supply ships would be sent for another two years.^[1] Two ships were dispatched by Muravyev, one under Lt. Arvid Etholén, a future Governor of Russian America, sailed to the Kingdom of Hawaii while another went for the markets of Yerba Buena. While enough flour and other needed supplies were gathered until more products could be purchased from visiting British and Americans, Russian America remained dependent on outside sources of foodstuffs.^[1]

Muravyev completed his term in 1825, and was replaced by Pyotr Chistyakov.

References