Dmitry Dmitriyevich Smyshlyayev

Dmitry Dmitriyevich Smyshlyayev (Russian: Дми́трий Дми́триевич Смышля́ев) was a Russian historian, ethnographer and politician. He is known for study of history of Perm and Perm Governorate.

Dmitry Dmitriyevich Smyshlyayev was born in Perm, on the March 5, 1828, in the family of Dmitry Yemelyanovich Smyshlyayev, merchant of the 1st guild and mayor of Perm in 1823—1826. In 1844 he left the grammar-school and had been assisting his father with commerce until 1857. Then he turned to social and educational activity and study of the local history. He took part in the organization of public reading and Sunday schools, the foundation of the Women's grammar-school, etc.

In 1858—1860 Smyshlyayev published "The Perm Antology" (Russian: "Пермский сборник"), which was devoted to history, ethnography and statistics of Perm Governorate.

In 1870—1879 Smyshlyayev was a chairman of Governorate Executive Board. He brought up the problems of national education, medicine and improvements of social welfare. In 1872 he founded the journal "Anthology of Perm Zemstvo" (Russian: "Сборник Пермского земства"). He had been editing it until 1878 and published 34 issues. Later he edited the unofficial part of "Perm Governorate News".

In 1885 Smyshlyayev visited Jerusalem as representative of the Imperial Palestina Society. He supported the building of shelter for the Russian pilgrims. The Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem appreciated his services and conferred a title of Knight of Holy Sepulchre. Later he returned to Perm and became a Secretary of Governorat Statistic Committee.

Smyshlyayev died on November 27, 1893. He buried in Perm at the Yegoshikha Cemetery.