1825

The reign of Tsar Nicholas I begins - He is the grandson of Catherine and brother of Alexander I.

• First railroad opened in England.
• Tea from China introduced in Europe.
• Alexander Pushkin writes "Boris Godunov."
• Latin American War for Independence (1811-1826), led by Simon Bolivar, nears an end.

Nicholas I (1796-1855)
Emperor of Russia (1825-1855)

Nicholas was born May 25, 1796, the third son of Paul I. He was not considered likely to become Emperor so he received an education in military engineering and became inspector general for the army's engineers. Nicholas I came to the throne after the death of his brother Alexander I and the refusal of his brother, Grand Duke Constantine, to accept the throne. He was crowned August 22, 1826.

The principal issue of his reign was the maintanence of pro-Russian regimes in the Black Sea straits. Nicholas attempted to resolve the partition of the Ottoman Empire. The result was the Crimean War (1853-56), in which Russia suffered a bitter defeat at the hands of a Western Alliance and Turkey.

Nicholas died on February 18, 1855. Many believe he poisoned himself after hearing the news of the Russian defeat at Evpatoria.