Nowadays, few know that the first governor of Moscow and general governor, as they were called in pre-revolutionary times, was Count Zachar Grigorievich Chernychev. This famous nobleman of the time of Catherine the Great was an outstanding military leader and general field marshal of the Russian army. He was born on March 18, 1722, and came from the ancient noble family of Chernychevs. Zachar Grigorievich's father served as a general adjutant in the Russian army and was an aide-de-camp and associate of Peter the Great, while his mother, Avdotya Chernycheva, was a close friend of the first Russian emperor and had an influence on him.

Chernychev received an excellent education and began his career as a guard officer. By the age of 22, he became a chamber junker to the future Emperor Peter III, which did not prevent him from making a brilliant career under Catherine II. According to some reports, he had a romantic relationship with Catherine, which led to his being sent to the active army by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. This unexpected turn in the life of the dandy brought him military glory. The former capital dandy bravely led his subordinates into attack under fire. The culmination of his military career was the rank of general field marshal.

In the 1770s, Chernychev became the ruler of Belarus, and in 1782 he was appointed the first general governor of the Moscow province. He proved himself to be a talented city governor, significantly improving the condition of the former Russian capital, for which he was popular among Muscovites. It was under Chernychev that the current city hall building became the residence of the general governors. The count was childless but created one of the most beautiful estates in the Russian Empire, where the very Catherine II was an honorary guest.

Zachar Grigorievich lived a bright life and passed away in 1784 at the age of 62. He now rests in the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which is in poor condition, and the tombstone requires restoration, but the burial site has been preserved.