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Isaac GurvichRussian publicist and economist, social democrat.
Date of Birth: 27.04.1860
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Isaac Aronovich Gurvich: Russian-American Social Democrat
- Exile, Emigration, and Journalism
- Academic Career and Research
- Public Service and Advocacy
- Return to Russia and Subsequent Years
- Personal Life and Legacy
Isaac Aronovich Gurvich: Russian-American Social Democrat
Early Life and EducationIsaac Aronovich Gurvich was born on April 14 (26), 1860, in Vilnius, Russian Empire. He initially pursued medicine at the Medico-Surgical Academy before transferring to St. Petersburg University to study law. He graduated with a law degree from Demidov Law School in 1887.
Exile, Emigration, and Journalism
Gurvich's political activism led to his arrest and exile to Siberia from 1881 to 1885. Upon his release, he left Russia and settled in the United States in 1891. He became the editor of the newspaper "Progress" (1891-1893) and collaborated with American and British editions of the journal "Free Russia."
Academic Career and Research
In 1893, Gurvich earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Edinburgh for his dissertation on the economic conditions of Russian peasants. The work received praise from prominent intellectuals like Vladimir Lenin and Pyotr Struve. He taught statistics at the University of Chicago from 1893 to 1894.
Public Service and Advocacy
After practicing law for several years, Gurvich joined the U.S. government in 1900. He worked at the Census Bureau, initially within the Department of the Interior and later the Department of Commerce and Labor. He remained active in social democratic movements, co-founding the American Social Democratic Party and advocating for workers' rights.
Return to Russia and Subsequent Years
Gurvich visited Russia in 1905 and was elected as an elector to the State Duma. However, the results were annulled by the government. He returned to the United States and continued his writing and activism. Gurvich contributed to numerous publications in Russian, English, German, Swedish, and Yiddish, covering a wide range of social, economic, and political issues.
Personal Life and Legacy
Gurvich married Elena Ilyinichna Kusheleva (1855-19..) and had four children. He later married Louise Elizabeth Ioffe (1866-1947) and had four more children, including the journalist and historian George Kennan. Gurvich passed away on July 9, 1924, in New York City. He left behind a lasting legacy as a social democrat, economist, and public intellectual.
