Dmitrieff, Elizabeth (1851–1910)
Dmitrieff, Elizabeth (1851–1910)
Russian-French socialist. Name variations: Elisabeth Dmitriev or Dmitrieva. Born in Russia in 1851; died in 1910; daughter of a Russian noble; married a political prisoner.
Elizabeth Dmitrieff used her marriage to an army officer to attend a university in Switzerland. While there, she met other Russian radicals and became a Marxist. As a member of the Socialist International, she journeyed to London, where she became friends with Karl Marx. From there, she went to Paris and sent Marx detailed descriptions of events of 1870. During the Paris Commune revolt of 1871, Dmitrieff organized the Union of Women for the Defense of Paris and the Care of the Wounded, a branch of the Socialist International. With the Communards defeated, she escaped to Russia, where she married a political prisoner who had been condemned to Siberia. She remained with him in exile until she died in 1910.