Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov - Russian poet and translator. His works are not known to all readers, although the themes of the poems are interesting and mysterious, as is his biography.
Origin of the poet
Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov was born on April 11, 1779 in Moscow. His family was not only noble, but also ancient. Ivan Ivanovich on the paternal side was the grandson of the senator. By the way, the poet’s father, Ivan Ivanovich, served as a state adviser at the court. Mother, Anna Apollonovna, in girlhood bore the name of Khomutov and was the aunt of the famous Cossack chieftain.
Despite the fact that his mother was engaged in the upbringing of Ivan Kozlov, and he received home science education, the poet was a diverse personality, and all his contemporaries noted his excellent education.
Military service
The future poet Ivan Kozlov, barely five years old, was enlisted in the military. In October 1784 he had the rank of sergeant of the famous Izmaylovsky regiment, where only wealthy nobles were enrolled. And already in February 1795, when the young poet was in his sixteenth year, he was transferred to the new rank of ensign.
Then there was a service in the Life Guard, which lasted three years. After that, the poet Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov deservedly retired.
Civil service
In 1798, the poet Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov entered the civil service, having the post of provincial secretary. But after a few months, having proved himself worthily, he was transferred to college assessors and even for special success was enrolled in the office of Peter Lopukhin. A year later, service in the heraldry followed.
Eight years later, a new appointment came: Ivan Kozlov was transferred to the office of Commander-in-Chief Tutolmin, who was in the capital. And soon, in a new place, showing zeal and unusual education, the poet was able to receive the rank of court adviser.
The war of 1812 brought many changes to the life of Ivan Ivanovich. So, for several months he has been working on a committee whose goal is to assemble and create a powerful Moscow military force, as well as prepare it for military operations with Napoleon.
But three days before Napoleon was supposed to enter the capital, Ivan Kozlov with his other fellow officials was fired. Realizing that it is necessary to save the family, he leaves Moscow and leaves for his mother’s relatives in Rybinsk. But even after the end of the war with the French, Ivan Kozlov did not return to Moscow.
Now he chooses St. Petersburg as a place of residence for himself and his family. Soon, Ivan Ivanovich receives an appointment to the service. At the end of July 1813, the talented poet Ivan Kozlov began to serve in the State Department of Property, where he was appointed to the position of assistant to the mayor. And already in October 1814 he received a new rank - a college official. But an unexpected illness deprived him of the opportunity to further build his state career.
Literary activity
Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov, whose verses are expressive and beautiful, suddenly fell ill in 1818. Paralysis deprives him of the ability to move, and the poet ceases public service. But he does not want to give up and decides to devote himself to literary work. But by the end of 1819, he gradually began to go blind and completely lost his sight in 1821.
Ivan Ivanovich begins to diligently engage in translations. He knew many languages, including French, German, Italian, English and others. He translates the best literary works into these languages. It begins with the works of Vasily Zhukovsky, and the first work that appeared in print was Zhukovsky's poem "Svetlana." And soon his own poems appeared: “To Svetlana”, “Chernets”, “Poet Zhukovsky”.
The poet was personally acquainted with Vasily Zhukovsky, Peter Vyazemsky, Alexander Pushkin, Ivan Turgenev and other outstanding educated people of that time.
Poems by Ivan Kozlov are popular, and fame finally comes to the sick poet. Contemporaries recalled that Ivan Ivanovich, despite being in a wheelchair, always behaved courageously and openly. All his entourage noted: the poet dressed, despite the fact that he was blind and almost motionless, always elegant and fashionable.
But contemporaries spoke especially of conversations with him, because he always said that he wanted to listen to him without interrupting, holding his breath and admiring every word. In addition, he read poetry of European poets beautifully and expressively. And no one could guess, looking at this man inspired by poetry, that at night he was tormented by cruel and constant pain.
Personal life
Married Ivan Kozlov, whose biography is interesting and eventful, in 1809. His wife was Sofia Andreevna Davydova, who was the daughter of a foreman. In this marriage, a talented poet gives birth to two children: a son and a daughter. Nothing is known about the fate of Ivan and Alexandra.
The famous poet of the nineteenth century Ivan Ivanovich Kozlov died on the thirtieth of January 1840.