러시아 제국의 두 학술원을 이끈 여성총재: 예카테리나 다쉬코바의 공적 활동 돌아보기

Abstract

This article tries to trace the public activities of Princess Ekaterina Dashkova (1743-1810) and analyse their meaning m the perspective of women's history. Dashkova, nee Vorontsova, led an exceptional and extraordinary life according to the criterion of the gender norm of the 18th century Russia. Born in a highest aristocrat family of Russian Empire, she devoutly read writings of the French Enlightenment during her youth and was more interested in books than in jewelry. After she was acquainted with the Grand Duchess Catherine (the future Empress Catherine II) in 1759, she became passionately devoted to the Grand Duchess. The mutual attraction of the two women was based on their shared intelligence and love of reading. Moreover Dashkova found in the Grand Duchess her role model. This attachment led Dashkova to organize and lead, as a nineteen-year-woman, the palace coup d'éta for Catherine II in June 1762. Soon thereafter Dashkova retired from the court life and made a long journey in European countries. She met various 'philosophers' of the French Enlightenment, including Diderot and Voltaire, and made with her erudition and intelligence a deep impression on them. During her second Europe stay she had regular conversation meetings with Adam Smith. In 1782 Catherine II appointed Dashkova Director of the Peterburg Academy of Science, an institution founded for the development of natural science and mathematics. Dashkova became the first ever woman director of an Academy of Science in the world history.