Fyodor Egorovich Enakiev was one of the leading investors of the Russian Empire, actively investing in the development of railways, modernization of seaports, construction of coal mines and industrial enterprises, as well as in the design of the capital. He was born into a wealthy noble family but achieved success on his own, becoming a true self-made man.

Enakiev graduated from the Institute of Engineers of Railways and began working on the Nikolaev Railway in 1876. Thanks to his organizational talent, he quickly climbed the career ladder and soon became a member of the board of the Baltic Railway Company. During this time, he had the idea to engage in his own business projects.

Fyodor Egorovich created a Russian-Belgian company, attracted foreign investors, and proposed to invest in the development of coal mines in the Donbass and the construction of a metallurgical plant. The prospects were promising: high profits, a developed transport infrastructure in southern Russia, and qualified personnel. The success exceeded all expectations, and Enakiev later wrote: "in the waterless steppe, now attracted, have found there means of existence, a population of 40 thousand souls."

With each passing year, the export of products increased, and there arose a need to expand the sale of coal and goods. Enakiev and the investors decided to also ship cargo by sea. To this end, they modernized and expanded the Mariupol port. At the same time, Enakiev laid a new railway line through the Donbass.

Later, Fyodor Egorovich turned his attention to Azerbaijan, where he similarly developed local mines and built factories. Despite the fact that his business was concentrated in southern Russia, he preferred to live in St. Petersburg and cared for his city. Enakiev's innovative ideas were significantly ahead of their time. For example, in 1912, he proposed to build a metro to relieve the capital's roads. Fyodor Egorovich passed away at the age of 63 in 1915.