1. Samuel Polyakov was a Russian businessman, informally known as the "most famous railroad king" of the Russian Empire, the senior member of the Polyakov business family, a philanthropist and a Jewish civil rights activist, co-founder of World ORT.
Samuel and his brothers, future bankers Lazar Polyakov and Yakov Polyakov, were born in a small trader's family in Dubrouna, in the Belarusian part of the Russian Empire.
Samuel Polyakov helped Yakov, the elder brother, in running father's business in alcohol tax farming, but after the emancipation reform of 1861 this opportunity dwindled, and Samuel Polyakov started his own construction business.
Samuel Polyakov performed "some kind of important services" for the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Ivan Tolstoy, later handled Tolstoy's business interests on a regular basis, and in return "Tolstoy launched Samuel Polyakov on his career".
Samuel Polyakov made himself rich charging the state 75 thousand roubles per verst of track, eight times above actual cost.
Samuel Polyakov pioneered fast-track railroad construction schedules, introducing new standards of project management promoted by his new ally in the government, minister Pavel Melnikov.
Kursk-Kharkiv-Azov mainline was built in a record time of 22 months; it provided the first reliable rail link for Donets Basin coal mines where Samuel Polyakov had substantial interests.
Samuel Polyakov acquired a concession to build a steel foundry in Azov, but eventually preferred to sell the rights to John Hughes.
Samuel Polyakov used his "enrepreneurial expertise" to amass shares of other railroads which he used as a collateral against loans from foreign bankers, betting on the expected rise in share value.
Samuel Polyakov retained the original neoclassical interiors intact; after him it passed to his son Daniel and was eventually bought by the state for the Governing Senate offices.
Samuel Polyakov acquired nobility and the rank of privy councilor but failed to reach coveted baron's title.
Samuel Polyakov was credited with donating three million roubles to public education, starting with the college for railroad trades established in Yelets in 1867.
Samuel Polyakov suddenly died of a stroke at the age of 50 during a funeral ceremony for Anton Warshawsky.
Samuel Polyakov was buried in a family vault at Saint Peterburg's Jewish Cemetery.
The cemetery still stands but Samuel Polyakov vault has been destroyed.
Samuel Polyakov was posthumously blamed for the Borki train disaster that occurred two months after his death on the tracks of Kursk-Kharkiv line.
Mikhail Danilov, Samuel Polyakov's project manager, is a key supporting character of the plot.