Augustin Betancourt: from Tenerife to St. Petersburg
You open your window in the morning to admire the sunrise, a light breeze catches the curtain, it flutters in the wind and... gets caught on a bridge. Yes, indeed, on a bridge. After all, it's just 65 centimeters from the window. The magnificent and controversial Betancourt Bridge.
Non-drawbridge, cable-stayed, six-lane, with a bicycle path, sidewalks and observation decks, it passes over the Malaya Neva and Zhdanovka rivers, providing a traffic-light-free passage from Pulkovo Airport to Gazprom Arena. The bridge has received numerous awards for its innovative design and implementation of modern technologies.
So who is this person whose name was given to this beautiful and complex structure?
Augustin Augustinovich Betancourt — scientist, engineer, architect, builder, lieutenant general, statesman. The list of his titles can go on and on. But let's take everything in order.
Non-drawbridge, cable-stayed, six-lane, with a bicycle path, sidewalks and observation decks, it passes over the Malaya Neva and Zhdanovka rivers, providing a traffic-light-free passage from Pulkovo Airport to Gazprom Arena. The bridge has received numerous awards for its innovative design and implementation of modern technologies.
So who is this person whose name was given to this beautiful and complex structure?
Augustin Augustinovich Betancourt — scientist, engineer, architect, builder, lieutenant general, statesman. The list of his titles can go on and on. But let's take everything in order.
Betancourt was born in the distant year of 1758 on the island of Tenerife, in the family of a self-proclaimed "king" of the Canary Islands. However, by that time, the islands themselves belonged to Spain, and the royal title was irrelevant. The family was wealthy and large, with many children. The father himself was in charge of educating the growing generation. The youngest, Augustin (with emphasis on the last syllable), grew up very clever and curious, especially interested in technology. They had to hire separate teachers of exact sciences specifically for him.
At twenty-one, Augustin went to Madrid, where he became a student at the Royal College. He studied mathematics, mechanics, and... drawing at the Royal Academy of Arts. Then France, and again higher mathematics, mechanics, and also bridge building and hydraulics. Then England and the study of steam engines. Excessive curiosity alarmed the English—the Spaniard was accused of industrial espionage. He had to return to Madrid.
Back in his homeland, Betancourt engaged in various activities. Roads, bridges, canals, steam engines—these were the spheres of his active interests. Soon he began work on an optical telegraph—a device that transmitted light signals for hundreds of kilometers. He established this connection between Madrid and the port city of Cadiz. For this, the Inquisition accused him of witchcraft. And then the Napoleonic Wars began, the treasury was depleted, orders stopped coming in, and the Inquisition didn't stop watching. Betancourt faced the question: where to live? He chose between England, where his wife was from, and Russia, which promised great prospects. A personal acquaintance with Alexander I determined his choice.
On November 30, 1808, Augustin José Pedro del Carmen Domingo de Candelaria de Betancourt y Molina became a Russian subject, Augustin Augustinovich Betancourt. He was 50 years old at that time—the perfect time to start life anew!
Betancourt lived in Russia for only 16 years but managed to accomplish so much.
His first creation was the "Girl with a Pitcher" fountain in the park of Tsarskoye Selo. Not the sculpture itself, but the water supply and drainage system. They say the fountain's water is healing, relieving love sickness.
At twenty-one, Augustin went to Madrid, where he became a student at the Royal College. He studied mathematics, mechanics, and... drawing at the Royal Academy of Arts. Then France, and again higher mathematics, mechanics, and also bridge building and hydraulics. Then England and the study of steam engines. Excessive curiosity alarmed the English—the Spaniard was accused of industrial espionage. He had to return to Madrid.
Back in his homeland, Betancourt engaged in various activities. Roads, bridges, canals, steam engines—these were the spheres of his active interests. Soon he began work on an optical telegraph—a device that transmitted light signals for hundreds of kilometers. He established this connection between Madrid and the port city of Cadiz. For this, the Inquisition accused him of witchcraft. And then the Napoleonic Wars began, the treasury was depleted, orders stopped coming in, and the Inquisition didn't stop watching. Betancourt faced the question: where to live? He chose between England, where his wife was from, and Russia, which promised great prospects. A personal acquaintance with Alexander I determined his choice.
On November 30, 1808, Augustin José Pedro del Carmen Domingo de Candelaria de Betancourt y Molina became a Russian subject, Augustin Augustinovich Betancourt. He was 50 years old at that time—the perfect time to start life anew!
Betancourt lived in Russia for only 16 years but managed to accomplish so much.
His first creation was the "Girl with a Pitcher" fountain in the park of Tsarskoye Selo. Not the sculpture itself, but the water supply and drainage system. They say the fountain's water is healing, relieving love sickness.
Betancourt traveled extensively throughout Russia and observed that the state of roads in the country was deplorable. He prepared a memorandum addressed to the Emperor, pointing out that the roads were "completely unsuitable for travel, and entire regions remain unsettled due to the lack of communication routes." The problem was that there was simply no one to develop these communication routes—there were no specialists in the country.
Following Betancourt's petition, Alexander I made the decision to organize training for transport engineers. In 1810, the Institute of the Corps of Transport Engineers was opened in St. Petersburg. A new approach was applied to the training of engineers. According to Betancourt's concept, specialists graduating from the Institute should be capable of performing any type of work. Students studied physics, mechanics, and architecture. They learned how to prepare cost estimates and projects. By the end of their studies, they could work as carpenters, metalworkers, and stone cutters.
Following Betancourt's petition, Alexander I made the decision to organize training for transport engineers. In 1810, the Institute of the Corps of Transport Engineers was opened in St. Petersburg. A new approach was applied to the training of engineers. According to Betancourt's concept, specialists graduating from the Institute should be capable of performing any type of work. Students studied physics, mechanics, and architecture. They learned how to prepare cost estimates and projects. By the end of their studies, they could work as carpenters, metalworkers, and stone cutters.
In 1816, Alexander I entrusted Betancourt, as the chairman of the "Committee for Construction and Hydraulic Works," with developing a project for the reconstruction of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Augustin Augustinovich personally handled the calculations for the foundations, the design of scaffolding, and lifting mechanisms. He also recommended inviting the young, unknown architect Auguste Montferrand.
Betancourt's engineering developments would later be applied by Montferrand during the construction of the Alexander Column in Palace Square.
After the war of 1812, counterfeit money flooded Russia. Something had to be done about this. A monetary reform was announced. And here, Augustin Augustinovich did not stand aside. The design of new banknotes, watermarks, designing machines for printing money, developing the composition of paper, and even creating the "Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers" (now Goznak)—all this was to Betancourt's credit.
Betancourt's engineering developments would later be applied by Montferrand during the construction of the Alexander Column in Palace Square.
After the war of 1812, counterfeit money flooded Russia. Something had to be done about this. A monetary reform was announced. And here, Augustin Augustinovich did not stand aside. The design of new banknotes, watermarks, designing machines for printing money, developing the composition of paper, and even creating the "Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers" (now Goznak)—all this was to Betancourt's credit.
According to his calculations, the Kronstadt port was deepened. And with the help of a mechanical dredger he invented, a canal was built between the Izhora Factory and St. Petersburg.
With Augustin's direct participation, the first highway between St. Petersburg and Moscow was constructed.
And where there are roads, rivers, and canals, there are bridges. Betancourt became one of the founders of bridge building in Russia.
The Kamennoostrovsky Bridge across the Malaya Nevka between Aptekarsky and Kamenny Islands was Russia's first seven-span arched bridge on stone supports. It even withstood the flood of 1824.
With Augustin's direct participation, the first highway between St. Petersburg and Moscow was constructed.
And where there are roads, rivers, and canals, there are bridges. Betancourt became one of the founders of bridge building in Russia.
The Kamennoostrovsky Bridge across the Malaya Nevka between Aptekarsky and Kamenny Islands was Russia's first seven-span arched bridge on stone supports. It even withstood the flood of 1824.
The arched bridges in Tula, Izhora, Peterhof, on the Moscow Highway, and the Isaac Pontoon Bridge—all of them were built under the direct supervision of this Russian Spaniard.
The Manege building in Moscow—that's also Betancourt's work. As is the Fair Town in Nizhny Novgorod. This outstanding engineer designed many other structures throughout Russia.
The industrious and fair-minded Augustin Augustinovich always made honest reports to the emperor about the unsatisfactory state of various affairs. Envious rivals and schemers were vigilant and slandered the engineer. He fell out of favor with Alexander I. In 1822, he was removed from his duties. And then his beloved daughter died. Augustin Augustinovich couldn't survive all of this, and in July 1824, he passed away.
Betancourt was buried at the Smolensky Cemetery. Auguste Montferrand created a sketch for the tombstone in the form of a column, and Nizhny Novgorod merchants collected money for its creation. In 1979, his remains and the tombstone were transferred to the "18th Century Necropolis" at the Lazarevsky Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
After the death of the head of the family, his widow and daughters left for England. His son remained in Russia and rose to the rank of lieutenant general.
Monuments to Betancourt stand on Tenerife, and in St. Petersburg at Obukhovskaya Square near the University of Transport and Communications.
The industrious and fair-minded Augustin Augustinovich always made honest reports to the emperor about the unsatisfactory state of various affairs. Envious rivals and schemers were vigilant and slandered the engineer. He fell out of favor with Alexander I. In 1822, he was removed from his duties. And then his beloved daughter died. Augustin Augustinovich couldn't survive all of this, and in July 1824, he passed away.
Betancourt was buried at the Smolensky Cemetery. Auguste Montferrand created a sketch for the tombstone in the form of a column, and Nizhny Novgorod merchants collected money for its creation. In 1979, his remains and the tombstone were transferred to the "18th Century Necropolis" at the Lazarevsky Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
After the death of the head of the family, his widow and daughters left for England. His son remained in Russia and rose to the rank of lieutenant general.
Monuments to Betancourt stand on Tenerife, and in St. Petersburg at Obukhovskaya Square near the University of Transport and Communications.
The express train 25/26, which runs between Moscow and St. Petersburg, has been named after Betancourt.
A minor planet #11446 in the Solar System bears Betancourt's name.
And finally, on May 13, 2018, a new bridge named after Betancourt was opened for traffic in St. Petersburg.
A minor planet #11446 in the Solar System bears Betancourt's name.
And finally, on May 13, 2018, a new bridge named after Betancourt was opened for traffic in St. Petersburg.
