Demidov
or DEMIDOFF, a wealthy and influential Russian family, whose head was an armory-founder at Toula.
This Demidoff was intrusted by Peter the Great with the business of casting the cannon for that prince's numerous warlike expeditions. În 1725 he discovered the mines of Kolyvan, the working of which speedily enriched him. He left a son, NIKITA, and several grandsons, who distinguished themselves in the same career as their progenitor, and amassed colossal fortunes. The best known of these are PROKOP DEMIDOFF, who worked with great profit the iron, copper, and gold mines of the Ural Mountains; born at Moscow about 1730; NIKOLAY NI- KITICH, a zealous philanthropist, who founded establishments of public utility, and in 1900 became a writer of plays.
Among those successfully produced were "Strongheart," "The Warrens of Virginia," "The Land of the Free," and "The Woman." He also prepared and directed many successful moving picture plays.