Franz Karlovich San-Galli (Franz Friedrich Wilhelm San-Galli; February 26, 1824, Cummin, now Kamen-Pomorsky - July 17, 1908, St. Petersburg) is a Russian breeder and entrepreneur of Prussian-German origin.
Born in the old town of Cummin in the province of Prussia - Pomerania. The surname Sangalli has Italian roots. His grandfather Balthasar San Galli (Carl Balthasar Innocentius San Galli, 1755-1818) was a sculptor born in the Italian city of Pavia. In 1778, during the Prussian-Austrian War for the Bavarian throne, he was captured by Prussia and thus ended up in Stettin. He became famous as a sculptor at the court of the Prussian commander-in-chief, Field Marshal von Möllendorf, and received Prussian citizenship. In 1785, for health reasons due to disability, he retired, surrounded by honor and respect. His son Johann Carl San Galli took part in the Napoleonic wars as a volunteer in the Prussian army and rose to the rank of non-commissioned officer of the Uhlan regiment. Subsequently, he served as chief customs inspector of Stettin. Franz Friedrich (future Franz Karlovich) began his education at the Stettin gymnasium. In addition, he received private lessons at home in English, French, dancing, fencing, horse riding, etc. He usually spent his summer holidays hunting in the fields and forests around his father′s farm. According to his self-written biography, his mother had the greatest influence on the formation of his character. When Franz was 17, his father died, leaving a modest inheritance, a pension and a widow with 6 children. Franz went to work for a newly founded wholesaler selling Russian goods. In 1843, the St. Petersburg branch of the firm needed a young assistant, and thus 19-year-old Franz-Friedrich ended up in Russia. His salary was 100 rubles in banknotes or 50 rubles in gold. "Too little to survive, but too much to not starve to death" - Franz San Galli joked later. He moved to work in another trading house in the export department, where he had to sail the steamer "Adler" between Stockholm, Helsinki, Revel and St. Petersburg. Then, thanks to his acquaintance and friendship with the son of the owner of the factory, he moved to the foundry and mechanical company of the Englishman Franz Byrd, where he worked for 8 years.
At the age of 28, Franz San Galli has accumulated sufficient life experience and decided to take a decisive step in his life - to get married and start his own business. Sophia Alexandrovna, the only daughter of the famous and wealthy merchant Rozinsky, became his wife. In 1851 he became a Russian citizen.
Since Franz San Galli did not have his own capital, he borrowed 1,000 rubles from a friend at 6% per annum. In 1853, he hired 12 locksmiths and tinsmiths and opened a workshop for the production of fireplaces, bowls and metal beds on Ligovsky Prospect, and opened a shop on Nevsky Prospekt. A few years later, the workshop grew to a factory with 1000 workers, the enterprise specialized in the production of equipment for water supply, heating of buildings and sewerage, a residential settlement for factory workers and a branch in Moscow appeared. By the end of the 19th century, he owned an iron foundry and mechanical factories in St. Petersburg, two shops on Nevsky Prospect.
He is known primarily as the inventor of the heating radiator. He was also engaged in artistic casting and gas lighting in St. Petersburg. He owned houses: No. 8 on Nevsky Prospect, No. 58-66 on Ligovsky Prospect. In 1880, he acquired and rebuilt a shopping center in Moscow on Kuznetsky Most, named Passage San Galli, and rebuilt according to the project of the architect Alexei Martynov.
He was awarded the honorary title of Manufactures Counselor, the rank of actual State Councilor (1889). He was a member of the Council of Trade and Manufactories under the Department of Trade and Manufactories of the Ministry of Finance, a member of the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Factory Presence. In 1891-1895 he was a member of the board of the St. Petersburg Private Commercial Bank.
He was buried in St. Petersburg at the Tentelevsky cemetery.