Pavel Grigoryevich von Derwiz, born on January 31, 1826, in Lebedyan, Tambov province, was a prominent Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist who played a significant role in the construction of railways in the Russian Empire. He also held the title of actual state councilor.

After studying at the English boarding school of Hirst in St. Petersburg, von Derwiz entered the law school, graduating with a gold medal in 1847. He then began his career in the Senate, working in the heraldry department, and during the Crimean War, he served in the military department, dealing with supply issues.

Around 1857, von Derwiz left government service and moved to Moscow. There, he was invited by Anenkov to become the secretary of the Moscow-Saratov Railway Society, later renamed the Moscow-Ryazan Railway. He subsequently became a member of the board of this society.

Together with engineer K. F. von Meck, von Derwiz obtained a concession to build the Ryazan-Kozlov Railway, completed in 1865. Later, they constructed the Kursk-Kiev Railway, which became a model of technical execution and operation.

Von Derwiz was the first in Russia to demonstrate successful private entrepreneurship in the railway sector. In 1868, he moved abroad and lived mainly in his villa in Nice until his death. A passionate music lover, he created his own orchestra from musicians from Germany and France, which became known for its concerts.

Possessing significant wealth, von Derwiz was actively involved in charity. Among his initiatives was the organization of the Vladimir Children's Hospital in Moscow in the mid-1870s, named in honor of his deceased son, funded by the Moscow city head Prince A. A. Shcherbatov.