The name of one of the closest associates of Peter the Great, Yakov Vi-limovich Bruce, the first Russian scientist, diplomat, major military and statesman, despite the huge role he played in the Peter the Great transformations, is little known to a wide circle of readers. The first president of the Berg and Manufactory College, who laid the foundations of Russian industry, the founder of Russian artillery, one of the founders of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, Yakov Bruce was the most enlightened of Peter's entourage. Meanwhile, this learned husband became a favorite hero of folk traditions, myths and legends, painting him as a warlock, magician and astrologer. So who was Jacob Bruce really? Why did his name turn out to be forgotten by historians? These and other equally interesting questions are answered by this book.