Novosiltseva, Maria Petrovna

Born in the family of the colonel of the Cavalier Guard regiment Pyotr Artamonovich Kozhin , having retired with the rank of major general , he was the leader of the nobility of Porhov district . Maria’s grandfather, retired Colonel Artamon Osipovich Kozhin was a wealthy landowner, the owner of several estates, as well as an entrepreneur well-known in Porkhov County, he owned a canvas factory and a winery ^[1] ; he was married to Vera Vasilievna Lopukhina ^[2] , the sister of His Grace Prince P.V. Lopukhin .

Mary was six years old when her mother died. Together with her sister Ekaterina (in the marriage of Lashkarev), she grew up in her father's estate in the village of Aleshkino, Kolomensky district, Moscow province and received a home education.

On November 12, 1848, she married Ivan Nikolayevich Novosiltsev (1825-1870), who first served in the cuirassier regiment of Her Majesty, and then in the life-hussar regiment. He was the son of the State Secretary of the Empress Maria Fedorovna , a member of the Board of Trustees in the Educational Society of Noble Maidens N. P. Novosiltsev (1789-1856) and Countess E. I. Apraksina ; his elder sister, Ekaterina, was married to E. D. Naryshkin , the illegitimate son of Alexander I.

In 1870, Maria Petrovna was widowed and settled in her estate of Princess Gorky in the Pskov Region , which she inherited from her uncle G. A. Kozhin.

During the Russo-Turkish War, Novosiltseva entered the Holy Trinity Community with her sister of mercy, with whom she went to war, and accompanied trains with wounded from Iasi to various cities of Russia. Their detachment, led by Elizabeth Alekseevna Kublitskaya, included 11 sisters of mercy and 9 ladies, among whom was the well-known baroness Yu. P. Vrevskaya .

All the sisters of the community who participated in the Russian-Turkish war were awarded with medals and signs of the Red Cross for their heroic work ^[3] .

Tsesarevna Maria Fyodorovna was personally aware of the activities during the Turkish company Novosiltseva for her selfless, tireless, heartfelt care for the wounded and sick. When in 1886, due to the resignation of O. A. Tomilova , the post of chief was vacated at the Smolny Institute, the empress elected M.P. Novosiltseva for this post.

The post of boss M.P. Novosiltseva held until 1894 . With her, the life of the Smolny Institute proceeded without any changes: Novosiltseva did not strive for any transformations and innovations, appreciating and respecting the institution, she managed it in the spirit of his traditions. The lack of pedagogical experience complicated the work of Novosiltseva, she performed it, however, with extreme conscientiousness and great energy.

Novosiltseva loved the pupils, treated them with kindness. She showed special care and affection in relation to sick pupils. She visited the infirmary daily and did a lot to improve patient care. She herself looked after seriously ill pupils, was on duty at night at their bedside. Novosiltseva took little part in economic and financial matters, she was burdened by the responsibility of the boss on these issues, the need to sign invoices and contracts.

Empress Maria Fyodorovna repeatedly expressed signs of pleasure to Novosiltseva about her activities as boss. In 1889, she was awarded a valuable gift, the same sign was awarded in 1892. In 1894 she was granted the Order of St. Catherine of the Lesser Cross ^[4] .

At the end of 1894, Novosiltseva left the Smolny Institute due to illness. When she left, the empress wished that in the Educational Society there was a portrait of Novosiltseva. According to the will of the empress, Novosiltseva sent her photo to Smolny in 1895, and in 1902 a portrait painted by Zabolotsky . Maria Petrovna Novosiltseva died on October 9, 1910 .

In marriage, had one son:

• Nikolai Ivanovich (08/09/1849 - 05/05/1916), Jägermeister , in 1895-1904 the leader of the Pskov nobility; He was married since 1886 to Princess Elizabeth Dmitrievna Obolenskaya (1854-1926), daughter of Prince D. A. Obolensky ; her sister Maria (1864-1946) was married to Prince A. G. Gagarin .