Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev was a prominent Russian Imperial statesman, historian, philosopher, and ethnographer. He is known as the author of a book on Russian history titled The History of Russia, posthumously published in 1767. Throughout this work, he advocates the idea that autocracy is the perfect form of government for Russia. He also founded three cities in the Russian Empire: Stavropol-on-Volga, Yekaterinburg, and Perm.