Editing Gomel (section)

=== Russian Empire ===
Gomel became part of the [[Russian Empire]] after the first partition of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1772 and was confiscated by the imperial treasury. In 1775, [[Catherine the Great|Empress Catherine II]] gave Gomel and Gomel eldership in the eternal hereditary possession of Russian military commander [[Pyotr Rumyantsev]].
[[File:Homiel. Гомель (1799).jpg|thumb|right|Map of Gomel in 1799]]

The period when Gomel was part of the Russian Empire was marked by rapid growth of the population, urban infrastructure, and industrial capacity, predominantly after the construction of railways in the late 19th century.<ref>Экономика Белорусии в Эпоху Империализма 1900-1917. Под редакцией Г. Ковалевского и др. Минск 1963, стр.413</ref><ref>Л. Виноградов Гомель. Его Прошлое и настоящее. 1142-1900 г. Москва 1900, стр.35</ref>

Saints [[Peter and Paul Cathedral, Gomel|Peter and Paul Cathedral]], designed by architect John Clark, was built in 1809–1819. [[Nikolay Rumyantsev]] opened the first [[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]], inn, glass, tile, weaving and spinning factories, and distilleries. Under his patronage a church, a synagogue, a pharmacy, a poorhouse, and a permanent wooden bridge across the [[Sozh river]] were built.

After the death of Nikolay Rumyantsev, the city came into the possession of his brother Sergei Petrovich Rumyantsev. However, due to lack of money, Sergei indebted Gomel with the state treasury of the Russian Empire. Subsequently, after not being able to pay off the debt, the treasury sold the city. The [[Gomel Palace]] was acquired by Prince [[Ivan Paskevich]], and the rest of the city by [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]] (1838). Paskevich had an English garden made around the palace, which is still in place today. In 1856, the estate passed on to his son Fyodor Ivanovich Paskevich.

In 1842, the [[Prince Józef Poniatowski Monument]], one of the most iconic monuments of [[Warsaw]], was relocated from Warsaw to Gomel, before it was restored to Poland in 1922.
[[File:Homiel, Juzef Paniatoŭski. Гомель, Юзэф Панятоўскі (1902) (7).jpg|thumb|[[Prince Józef Poniatowski Monument]] in Gomel]]

In 1852, Gomel became the county town of the former Belitsa County (renamed to Gomel County).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Без-Корнилович |first1=М. О. |title=Исторические сведения о примечательнейших местах в Белоруссии |date=1855 |publisher=Alfavit |isbn=5-87264-028-5 |page=211}}</ref> This was preceded by the construction of the St. Petersburg–Kiev highway and St. Petersburg–Sebastopol telegraph line, both of which passed through Gomel,<ref>Л. Виноградов Гомель. Его Прошлое и настоящее. 1142-1900 г. Москва 1900, стр.34</ref> and the opening of a beet sugar factory.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Без-Корнилович |first1=М. О. |title=Исторические сведения о примечательнейших местах в Белоруссии |date=1855 |publisher=Alfavit |isbn=5-87264-028-5 |page=214}}</ref> 

The construction of railways in the territory of Belarus in the late 19th century ([[Libau–Romny Railway]] in 1873 and the Polesia railway in 1888) made Gomel a major railway junction and "drew many businessmen to the town, causing the establishment of banks, firms and factories, which in turn changed the pastoral and provincial character of a bygone Gomel into a trading and mercantile one"<ref>Л. Виноградов Гомель. Его Прошлое и настоящее. 1142-1900 г. Москва 1900, стр.35</ref>

By 1913, Gomel had become a major industrial city with 104,500 inhabitants. Nearly 44% of its industrial output was metalworking, with large workshops servicing the rolling stock of the [[Libau–Romny Railway]] and the Polesia railway. Other significant industries were woodworking, match manufacturing, breweries, and churning.<ref>Экономика Белорусии в Эпоху Империализма 1900-1917. Под редакцией Г. Ковалевского и др. Минск 1963, стр.88</ref>