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The Imperial St Petersburg Foundling Hospital for the Care of Illegitimate Children, Orphans and Children of the Poor was founded by Ivan Betskoi (1770). Originally located in the house of a former pawnbroker on Millionnaya Street. Financed from the income of the Lending and Saving Exchequer (1772), monopoly on the sale of playing cards, public balls and private donations. Opened a maternity hospital (1771). Governed by a board of guardians. Transferred to the authority of Empress Maria Fyodorovna and moved into the former palace of Count Kirill Razumovsky on the River Moika Embankment (1797).