Nikita Demidov
![Nikita Antufiev, or Demidov](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/NikitaDemidovich.jpg)
Peter I of Russia charged the enterprising blacksmith Nikita with casting cannon for his many military expeditions and he was ennobled with name ''Demidov'' for having strongly supported the tsar's activities. In 1699 he set up Nevyansk's first iron foundry and in 1725 discovered mines at Kolivan (Kolyban), whose exploitation enriched him. A museum is devoted to him in Tula. Provided by Wikipedia