Sergei Ivanovitch Mouravieff-Apostol

Sergei Ivanovitch Mouravieff-Apostol (1796–1826)

Serge was born in St. Petersburg and spent his childhood with his brother Matvei in Hamburg and Paris. He was an outstanding student at the Hix boarding school with a gift for poetry, writing many verses in French and Latin. He entered the School of Bridges and Tunnels where he graduated as deputy engineer. The campaigns of 1812–1814 earned him the military decoration of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Class and gold shoulder boards. He transferred into the famous Seminovsky Regiment but following its demise was transferred to the southern army.

As a Lieutenant Colonel in command of the Tchernigoff Infantry Regiment and a member of the Southern Secret Society, he fomented an armed uprising and revolt. Troops loyal to the Czar put down the revolt after less than three days. In the process Serge was seriously wounded and his younger brother Hippolyte, believing him dead, took his own life.

Serge was found guilty by the Supreme Court of treason and sentenced to death. The sentence was ultimately carried out by hanging on 13 July 1826. The handkerchief used to mop his brow is in the private collection of the Mouravieff-Apostol-Korobyine family kept at the Lausanne Library in Switzerland. Prior to his execution, he wrote a letter to his father and asked that his two adopted children be looked after.

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