Nikita Demidov Antufyev

Nikita Demodov Antufyev was a founder of the wealthy Russian business dynasty that came to prominence in the 18th century largely through iron production and mining.

Nikita was born in a humble peasant family in the metalworking town of Tula in western Russia where he worked as blacksmith. He came to prominence after Peter the Great (reigned 1682–1725) visited the city and was amazed by his work. Nikita made a fortune in manufacturing weapons and created an iron foundry in Yekarinburg. He turned the iron foundry in Tula into one of the great centers of weapons production on imperial Russia. It was the first Russian iron that was able to rival that of England and Sweden. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721) between Russia and Sweden, Nikita was a main supplier to the Russian army with cannons, pistols, swords and other munitions. As a reward for his efforts, the emperor granted him noble status in 1720 as well as large estates.