Tchaikovsky
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Nikolai von Meck

Nikolai Karlovich von Meck (Николай Карлович фон Мекк), was Tchaikovsky's nephew by marriage, born on 16/28 April 1863, the sixth child of Karl von Meck and the composer's benefactress Nadezhda von Meck.

Nikolai was president of the board of the Moscow-Kazan Railway, and from 1919 he worked for the People's Commissariat of Communications. On 11/23 January 1884 he married Anna Davydova, and they had five children: Kira (1885-1969); Mark (1890-1918); Galina (1891-1985); Attal (1894-1916); and Liutsella (1896-1933). In 1903 they adopted another daughter: Elena (1897-1926).

On 5 September 1928 he was arrested by the State Secret Police (OGPU) on false charges of sabotage, in connection with the so-called “Shakhty affair”.

Nikolai von Meck was executed on 23 May 1929, aged 66.