Second guild merchant Ivan Torubaev Menshoi was a famous representative of the Kaluga merchant class. In 1811–1814, he served as the Mayor. During the Patriotic War of 1812 Kaluga served not only as a rear base with warehouses of arms and foodstuffs, but also as a medical center, therefore Torubaev had multiple diverse responsibilities. He supervised the condition of hospitals, maintenance of military crews and the commandant’s office of prisoners of war, deliveries of army rations, wine, provisions, medicines, half-length fur coats, straw shoes, axes.
In a letter of September 30, 1812 from the village of Tarutino the legendary military commander Mikhail Kutuzov wrote to Torubaev: “I see your efforts for our dear Motherland with heartfelt appreciation and pleasure”. During the wartime, Torubaev supported not only the Russian army but also civilian population of Kaluga. He gave his large two-story house to disabled soldiers and senior citizens who lost their houses during the war. He also donated about 50 000 rubles to other charitable institutions.
В 1813 the merchant received His Majesty’s award for donating his house ‘to the joy of Kaluga poor, elderly and sick’. He was awarded a gold medal with the inscription ‘For Commitment’ and a letter of thanks from the Emperor Alexander I.
Torubaev was not the only major benefactor of the merchant class in Kaluga. Zolotarevs, Faleyevs, Bilibins and Makarovs made a great contribution to the social and cultural life of the city. Kaluga merchants in general always willingly and generously donated funds for various city needs.
Charity for the poor stopped being the exclusive prerogative of the church back under Catherine II. Since 1775, public assistance departments started operating in forty provinces, including the Kaluga province. They arranged activities in public schools, orphanages, poorhouses, workhouses. Charity of the merchant families became the main source of subsistence for the poor and underprivileged.
By late XVIII century, Kaluga could still be called one of the wealthiest merchant centers of Russia. It was one of the top Russian cities in the size of its trade turnover. As for the number of merchants, Kaluga was second only to Oryol province.
In a letter of September 30, 1812 from the village of Tarutino the legendary military commander Mikhail Kutuzov wrote to Torubaev: “I see your efforts for our dear Motherland with heartfelt appreciation and pleasure”. During the wartime, Torubaev supported not only the Russian army but also civilian population of Kaluga. He gave his large two-story house to disabled soldiers and senior citizens who lost their houses during the war. He also donated about 50 000 rubles to other charitable institutions.
В 1813 the merchant received His Majesty’s award for donating his house ‘to the joy of Kaluga poor, elderly and sick’. He was awarded a gold medal with the inscription ‘For Commitment’ and a letter of thanks from the Emperor Alexander I.
Torubaev was not the only major benefactor of the merchant class in Kaluga. Zolotarevs, Faleyevs, Bilibins and Makarovs made a great contribution to the social and cultural life of the city. Kaluga merchants in general always willingly and generously donated funds for various city needs.
Charity for the poor stopped being the exclusive prerogative of the church back under Catherine II. Since 1775, public assistance departments started operating in forty provinces, including the Kaluga province. They arranged activities in public schools, orphanages, poorhouses, workhouses. Charity of the merchant families became the main source of subsistence for the poor and underprivileged.
By late XVIII century, Kaluga could still be called one of the wealthiest merchant centers of Russia. It was one of the top Russian cities in the size of its trade turnover. As for the number of merchants, Kaluga was second only to Oryol province.
