Russia's Students' Day is St Tatiana's Day because Elizabeth signed the decree founding Moscow University on that day in 1755 — which was also the name day of the mother of its co-founder Ivan Shuvalov.

1755

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The event

• Founding of Moscow University1755 · Moscow. In January 1755 Empress Elizabeth signed the decree founding Moscow University, based on a plan by Mikhail Lomonosov and Ivan Shuvalov. It became Russia's first university open to students of various classes.

18th century

More amazing facts

• 1752 Britain's tax year starts on 6 April because of the 1752 calendar reform.
• 1752 · 1782 One of Europe's last 'witches' was executed 30 years after Franklin caught lightning with a kite.
• 1755 In January 1755 Moscow University was founded; that November an earthquake destroyed Lisbon and shook all of Europe.
• 1755 Moscow University was founded in January 1755.
• 1756 · 1785 A former prisoner of war made potatoes popular in France.
• 1756 · 1763 Winston Churchill called the Seven Years' War the first world war. Between 1756 and 1763 it was fought in Europe, North America, India, Africa and at sea.

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