Boris Grigoryevich Yusupov came from an ancient noble family of boyars. In 1717, on the orders of Peter the Great, he was sent to France to study at the naval cadet college in Toulon. However, the training he received there was used not in military but civil service. His native intelligence, brilliant education and practical skills enabled him to take an active part in the state reforms of Peter the Great.
In 1738, Yusupov replaced the dismissed Vyelyaminov-Zernov in Moscow. That same year he became a member of the Senate, which he then addressed on the issue of putting the affairs of the gubernia in order, pointing out that of the three "official administrators" (the governor-general, the governor and the deputy governor) only he was actually at his post. The document was considered in 1739 by both the Cabinet of Ministers and the Senate. A Senate report on changes in the civil administration of the gubernia based on this document received imperial confirmation. This report referred, among other things, to the need to take a new census of lands belonging to the Streltsi and the town settlements, to farm out bridges, appoint a city commandant, etc. In 1739 Yusupov was appointed governor of Moscow.
Particular attention was given to developing national cloth production. A cloth factory owned by Yusupov himself supplied cloth for the entire army. In order to ensure the supply of high-quality raw material, pedigree sheep were ordered specially from Holland.
After leaving the post of governor of Moscow, Yusupov served as president of the Kommerz-Collegium, director of the Shlyakhetny Infantry Cadet Corps, and in other posts.
Yusupov was buried in the Lazarev cemetery at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St Petersburg.
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