Olga Novikova, 1862-1910

Born Olga Aleksieevna Kirieeva [used initials OK] in 1840 into the Russian upper-class. Brothers Alexander (1833-1910) and Nicholas (died 1876). Brought up in court circles, with a variety of foreign governesses. In 1860 married Ivan Novikov and took the feminine form of his name: Novikova. Novikov was nominally following a military career (and became a general), but was interested in educational administration, and became Curator of St. Petersburg University.

Bore Alexander (Sasha) in spring 1861. In spring 1862 she entered court and salon society in St. Petersburg, where she was a confidante of Lord Napier, the British Ambassador, and a disciple of Count Keyserling, the Estonian scholar. She was greatly interested in theology and science; but in mid-1862 her brother Alexander was sent to Poland, which was in a state of rebellion. It seems to have been at this time that she developed an interest in international politics, and conceived the need for a Russian spokesman in England, and an English spokesman in Russia.

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