Count Sergei Witte

Count Sergei Witte was a prominent Russian statesman from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for transforming Russia's economy. As finance minister and later prime minister, he focused on modernizing Russia’s industry and infrastructure, notably promoting railway expansion, including the Trans-Siberian Railway. Witte believed that economic strength was key to national power and pushed policies encouraging foreign investment and industrial growth. His efforts helped Russia modernize, but also led to social upheaval and tension, contributing to the conditions that sparked the 1917 Revolution.