This afternoon at 18:00 hrs, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (34 Atocha Street of Madrid) celebrates an event in memory of the distinguished Spanish and Russian statesman, architect and engineer Agustín Betancourt, founder of the first paper money factory of the State of Russia. The event will be celebrated at the centre’s Conference Hall, 3rd floor, and entry will be free. It will be presented by Andrey Sili, a Romanist philologist, correspondent for the journal Slovo.
Born in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, in 1758, Agustín Betancourt was a prestigious Spanish military engineer and inventor. His work ranged from steam engines and hot-air balloons to structural engineering and urban planning. As an educator, Betancourt founded and directed the School of Civil Engineers in 1802 and was also inspector of Saint Petersburg’s Institute of Communications Engineers. As an urban planner and construction manager, Betancourt supervised planning and construction in Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities.
