Ivan Skoropadskii Mikhailovich

Early years

Ivan Mykhailovych Skoropadskyi was born in the family of Second-Major Mykhailo Skoropadskyi and Pulkheria Markevich. He received a thorough home education, knew several European languages ​​and was fluent in Ukrainian. In his youth, a great role model for him was his cousin Mykola Markevich, a famous Ukrainian historian and writer.

At the age of 20, Ivan Skoropadsky entered military service as a cadet of the Siver Cavalry and Hunter Regiment, and two years later was transferred to the Narva Hussar Regiment. However, he was not satisfied with his military career, so on December 3, 1832, he left the military service and joined the civil service as an official in the office of the Konotop leader of the nobility. On December 4, 1838, he was dismissed from the post of provincial secretary.

Public activity

From 1844 to 1850, Skoropadskyi was twice elected as the leader of the nobility of Prylutsky District. In 1830, he married Elizaveta Petrivna Tarnovska, with whom he had three children: son Peter and daughters Elizaveta and Natalia. From his parents, Ivan Mykhailovych inherited a large estate with a small farm on the banks of the Trostyanets River.

In 1847-1853, Ivan Skoropadskyi was elected marshal of the nobility of the Poltava province. On April 8, 1851, he became a court counselor. He actively participated in the liberation of serfs and took care of the education of the people. In 1865, he was elected the head of the Prylutsk District School Council, where he, together with his assistant Ivan Pavlovich Machucha, achieved great success in the development of school education. In 1867, Skoropadskyi founded a boarding house for the training of national teachers.

Cultural and educational activities

Skoropadsky was the initiator of the creation of the Trostyanets dendrological park, which became one of the attractions of Ukraine. He actively invited prominent cultural figures to his estate, in particular the artist Mykola Ge, who painted portraits of Skoropadsky and members of his family.

Ivan Mykhailovych was a well-known patriot of Ukraine, actively supported Ukrainian culture and literature. His house was a meeting place for local landowners, where debates, concerts and literary evenings were held. Thanks to his efforts, many cultural events took place in Trostyanka, and Ukrainian books were also published.

Legacy

Ivan Mykhailovych Skoropadskyi died on February 8, 1887 and was buried in his beloved Trostyanets Park. On his grave, an incantation inscription has been preserved for future generations with a request to take care of the park he created.