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History of the Moscow City authorities >> Heads of the Moscow City administration before 1917 >> Count Yakov Alexandrovich BRYUS - Commander-in-Chief of Moscow (4 September 1784 – 26 June 1786)

Count

Yakov Alexandrovich

BRYUS

1732–1791

Commander-in-Chief of Moscow

4 September 1784 – 26 June 1786

Count Yakov Alexandrovich Bryus began active service in 1750 as a corporal with the Semyonovsky regiment, and took part in the Seven Years' War. He was raised to the rank of colonel in 1758 for his part in the battle of Gross-Jaegerndorf, and to the rank of brigadier for his part in the blockade of Kuestrin and the battle of Zorndorf. During the Rus-so-Turkish war of 1768-1774, he fought in the battles at Larga and Kagul (1770).

On 4 September 1781, a new page began in the biography of Count Yakov Bryus, who was now transferred to civil service. The almost simultaneous deaths of the commanders-in-chief of both capitals gave Bryus an unusual official post: he was put in charge of the administration of both St Petersburg and Moscow.

Count Bryus paid particular attention to city improvement. This was the period which saw the completion of the Vsekhsvyatsky Bridge, while repair work on the Bolshoi Kamenny Bridge was also reaching completion. Necessary repair work was being done on the Zemlyanoi Rampart. The Catherine Almshouse was opened on the Yauza for the poor in need of care and compassion.

The first session of the General and Six-Vote Duma - an elected administrative organ set up according to The Charter on the Rights and Privileges of Cities of the Russian Empire (1785)—was held on 15 January 1786. '

On the order of the Empress, Count Bryus directed his attention to education. The "attestation" of all day and boarding schools in Moscow was undertaken by "inviting religious and secular scholars". Nothing reprehensible was discovered, but "careless teaching" of catechism in certain educational establishments provoked a degree of anxiety.

Like his predecessor, Count Bryus headed the Commission on Moscow Waterworks, which since 1779 had been organising the construction of the Mytishchi water supply system. On 8 April 1785, he presented a report to the Empress "with prices previously projected and work already begun", and on 27 January 1786 he presented the work plan.

On leaving Moscow, Count Bryus retained the post of commander-in-chief of the St Petersburg gubernia. In 1788 his administrative competence was extended to include the Vyborg gubernia.