Herzen, << HEHRT suhn >>, Alexander Ivanovich (1812-1870), was a Russian journalist and one of the best-known revolutionaries of his day. He was born in Moscow on April 6, 1812, and graduated from Moscow State University. Twice arrested and exiled from Moscow for antigovernment activities, Herzen left Russia in 1847 and never returned. He settled in London in 1852. From 1857 to 1867, Herzen published the newspaper Kolokol (The Bell). The newspaper, which criticized the Russian government, and Herzen’s other writings influenced reforms in Russia, such as freeing the serfs. Although officially banned, Kolokol was very popular in Russia, even among government officials. Herzen’s works include From the Other Shore (1850), a collection of articles; and My Past and Thoughts (1861-1867), most of which was written between 1852 and 1855. Herzen died on Jan. 21, 1870.
