Revisiting the Date of Foundation of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg

Studies on the history of the establishment of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg
have a long tradition. However, it remains unclear what particular administrative act had
instituted it and on what date. For the last half-a-century, its foundation has been associated with a misconstrued Governing Senate Ordinance of 28 January 1724 regarding its
targeted funding. The ordinance on the establishment of the Academy and appointment
of its President, in accordance with the draft approved by Peter the Great on 22 January
1724, was issued on 20 November 1725 by his successor, Catherine I. What is of crucial importance, however, is the draft regulation on the creation of the Academy of Sciences,
developed by Laurentius Blumentrost on Peter the Great’s instruction and bearing several
resolutions left by the Emperor himself, which prompted the implementation of the plan.