On July 4, the United States celebrates Independence Day. On this day in 1776, exactly 250 years ago, a congress of representatives from the thirteen American colonies of Great Britain approved the Declaration of Independence, which was prepared by a group of delegates led by Thomas Jefferson. The States gained political independence from the metropolis.
For Russia, July 4, 1776, is no less significant and is likewise associated with the attainment of sovereignty—although in this case, not political, but economic and cultural. It was on this date that the Mining School in Saint Petersburg, now Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, graduated the country’s first engineers.
The oldest higher technical educational institution in Russia was founded in 1773 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774. At that time, geopolitical success depended directly on the state of industry. The Berg-Collegium was actively engaged in the development of mining and metallurgical production, but a major problem was the shortage of nationally oriented engineering personnel.
The first enrollment of the Mining School included 19 students from Moscow University, who had already mastered the fundamentals of the natural sciences and mathematics, and 4 students from the chemical laboratory of the Berg-Collegium. Their education was funded by the state treasury. Another 6 students enrolled on a commercial basis. These 29 individuals linked their paths with applied science and production to overcome the lag behind the West in the already unfolding industrial revolution.
On this memorable day, the Rector of Saint Petersburg Mining University, Vladimir Litvinenko, addressed all Russian miners:
«For Russia, July 4 could become as unifying and significant a national holiday as it is for the United States. Until 1776, all domestic mining engineers either held European citizenship or were educated in European countries. It was difficult to count on their zeal for the interests of the state. The first graduation of mining engineers in St. Petersburg marked the beginning of the formation of the domestic engineering school. It was precisely this school that subsequently facilitated the strengthening of Russia's influence in the south, along the borders with the Ottoman Empire, and in the west—the incorporation of Finland into the Russian Empire. Its achievements also contributed to the victory over Napoleon and, of course, to a qualitative improvement in the mechanization of industrial labour. Engineers made the country strong and self-sufficient. Today, Russia faces no less significant challenges. The revival of the best traditions of the domestic engineering corps, with a focus on scientific and technical progress, is a key issue for the state and society for the coming decades. The new model of engineering education, which is currently being implemented by Saint Petersburg Mining University, is aimed at solving this task precisely».
On February 26, 2026, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree on the creation of the National Center for Personnel and Scientific Support of the Mineral Resources Complex "Corps of Mining Engineers" on the basis of Saint Petersburg Mining University. Its objective is to improve the efficiency of subsoil use and maximize the utilization of our vast territory's natural potential for the development of high-tech industries. The scale of the work entails the unification of all miners in the country.
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