The aim: The article was created to portray the figure of Prince Ivan Anatolijevich Kurakin. The article attempts to show his closest family, school and university environments, which had an impact on shaping the professional and social interests of the future (in 1915–1917) curator of the Warsaw Scientific District. Methods: In abidance with the principles of biographical and historical research, document analysis was used. The resulting paper is largely based on memories of the St. Petersburg Junior High School teachers and pupils as well as on a selection of published materials on the history of said educational facility. Results: The undertaken research made it possible to capture the family environment of Ivan Kurakin, including, the state of their affluence as well as illustrating his father’s connections with high-ranking members of the St. Petersburg elite. Moreover, some key junior high school teachers were profiled and discussed. Conclusions: The study of the source materials allowed demonstrating the great importance of the family, especially the father, for the career of Ivan Kurakin. The wealthy family home and the father’s connections with high-ranking members of the St. Petersburg elite were both certainly pivotal in facilitating the educational and professional paths of Ivan A. Kurakin and his siblings. Also, undoubtedly, academic and high school teachers were considered influential social groups; thus, they could easily foster the career of the Russian nobleman. Finally, the personal profile of the civil servant and social activist, as well as of his closest associates, prove the great diligence with which the Russian educational authorities would choose candidates for the post of the curator of the Warsaw Scientific District. It was also shown that the Russians, taking high-level positions in the Russian administration in the Kingdom of Poland, would not generally abuse the extraordinary economic privileges they were entitled to.