Karelin, V. Russian business interests on Spitsbergen in the early twentieth century: Pavel Weymarn and Russian Spitsbergen Company // Norway and Russia in the Arctic : conference proceeding from international conference «Norway and Russia in the Arctic», Longyearbyen, 25-28 August 2009 / S. Bones, P. Mankova. – Tromso, 2010. – S. 19-27. – (Speculum boreale. The Publication Series of the Department of History and Religious Studies University of Tromso ; № 12).

Pavel von Weymam was descended from a noble family living in the St. Petersburg province.3His family originated from well-known stock originating from Osel Island.4 Pavel graduated from the most privileged naval training school of the Tsarist Russia Sea Cadet Corps. This naval school was famous not only because of its prominent graduates and experienced teaching staff, but also because of its tradition of social segregation.5 Thanks to his intellectual faculties, diligence and discipline, von Weymam successfully finished the training course in 1901 and was awarded the rank of midshipman. He had no occasion to take part in any sea battles during the Russo-Japanese War. That meant he did not obtain any practical experience of battle, have a smell of the powder or the chance to make good and fast career, which left him feeling disappointed. The Russian Fleet’s defeat at that time and the loss of many battleships left von Weymam and many of his colleagues without any professional prospects for the future. Although von Weymam was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in December 1905, he was nonetheless dissatisfied.6 According to the memoirs of Minister of Naval Forces I. K. Grigorovich, the years following the Russo-Japanese War were hard for naval officers in Russia. The Imperial Fleet’s losses and the general “feeling of disgust” expressed by the public placed the officers in an unfavourable situation.7A great many naval officers resigned because they could see no positive prospects. Many stayed on in naval service mostly because they had to fulfil professional obligations after completing the naval training course.8 Pavel von Weymam. successfully passed the entrance exams to the Military Law Academy in 1906 and his enrolment as a part-time student was supported by the Naval Ministry.9 Von Weymam graduated from the Military Law Academy after three years with excellent academic results and was attached to the Naval Forces General Staff in May 1909. But just as his employment there was due to commence, Pavel von Weymam decided to leave the naval service and resigned.10 3Swedish King Charles IX granted Wcymam’s family the privileges of nobility during the seventeenth century 4Osel Island (now Saarcmaa, forming part of Estonia) was formerly Swedish 5See G. K. Graf, Moryaki: ocherki iz zhizni morskikh ofitserov, Paris, 1930 6Russian Navy Archive in Saint-Petersburg. Fond 406. Opis. 9. File № 550, p. 2 and reverse side 7 1. K. Grigorovich, Vospominaniva bvvshego morskogo ministra, Voennve memuary, Kronshtadt, Moskva, 2005, p. 75 8 Ibid., p. 52 9File № 550, Fond 406. Opis 9., p. 7 and reverse side 10Ibid. 20