Mikhail Mikhailovich is known in history as Speransky, although his real surname was Vasiliev. He received the surname Speransky in the seminary, where he was considered a promising student and a successful future was predicted for him.

Speransky's career indeed developed rapidly. Born in 1772 to a church clerk, he studied in the seminary and within a few years reached the rank of state councilor, which was quite a high rank in the Russian Empire. Emperor Paul was aware of him, Alexander was friends with him, and Nicholas respected his experience and intellect.

Speransky was an advisor on political reforms and prepared important documents, including the Decree on Free Peasants. The Emperor took him on foreign trips, and once Speransky was introduced to Napoleon. The French Emperor, impressed by his intellect and eloquence, jokingly suggested to Alexander I to exchange Speransky for a European kingdom, but the Russian Tsar refused.

After Alexander's death, the Decembrists revolted, planning to appoint Speransky as the head of the Provisional Government in case of victory. This may have influenced Nicholas I's decision to appoint him to the Supreme Criminal Court in the case of the Decembrists, which was a heavy blow for Speransky. It is said that he cried when the sentences were pronounced.

One of Speransky's most significant achievements was the creation of the 15-volume Code of Laws of the Russian Empire, which replaced the outdated Cathedral Code of 1649. For this, Nicholas I awarded him the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, removing his personal order from himself.

Mikhail Speransky had a significant impact on Russian education. He was one of the organizers of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, founded the Higher School of Law to train lawyers, and taught the future Emperor Alexander II.