Participation of the Siberian merchant class in the public life of the region in the 19th century

In the article the public work of merchants during the 19th century which meant to perform duties of various elective posts in the institutions of municipal government is considered. Many merchants took up a public position at least once in their life. The attitude of merchants to the duty of elective posts is shown. Merchants' public charity as part of their public work is described. They were elected for the City Council, magistrate, courts, departments of public assistance and other work-places which were under the jurisdiction of local authorities. Merchants took up positions of mayors, city headmen and churchwardens, judges and judicial assessors, deputies of the City Council, and other elective posts. An exceptional source on merchants' public service is their records of service. The main content of the records concluded information about the merchant's education, terms and places of his work, his ranks and positions, which allows watching the merchant's career development by the time of service record compilation. Official responsibilities disturbed the business activity of merchants; therefore, the desire to evade serving in self-government institutions was characteristic for Siberian merchants throughout the considered period. In the second half of the 19th century merchants began to get registered in different cities to avoid elective posts. However, some merchants wanted to serve and carried out their duties properly. They received certificates of commendation from the city community and government awards. Public service was connected with considerable monetary expenses, most of which merchants-mayors had to bear. By the nature of service the mayor was a member of practically all charitable educational institutions, presided in trustee Councils of educational institutions, and traditionally took the main part of expenses of these establishments. He also financed some projects on city improvement. Public charity of merchants in the form of donations for patriotic needs, organization of public holidays, improvement of the cities, participation in the activities of the statistical, trustee, prison and other committees, arrangement of charitable establishments, and financial support of the needy citizens was inseparably connected with the public service of merchants.

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