7 November — Petersburg was struck by an unprecedented flood. All bridges and footbridges were torn away; many streetlights and several guard booths were destroyed by the water; up to 160 barges of various sizes and several galliots ended up in the streets. On the Petersburg Side, where the houses are mostly wooden and one-story, except along Bolshoi Prospekt, the wind shattered windows and the water ruined stoves; up to 90 people of both sexes died there. Along the seashore the water rose by three arshins; many dilapidated houses were swept away entirely. Two enormous coal barges had been brought a few days before the flood for the Mint. They drifted to the fence of the wooden Church of the Holy Trinity and, by their height, almost equaled it.
9 November — up to 2,500 rubles were distributed to those in need; money was given to priests and church wardens so that they would give alms to the poor and beggars. Couriers were sent to the villages to bring back glaziers and stove-makers, who, since it was already autumn, had dispersed to the countryside.
All military governors took measures to house and treat the sick.
10 November — Komarovsky received 10,000 rubles from Empress Maria Fyodorovna to aid those affected by the flood.
From among the townspeople, reliable and honest men were chosen to distribute food in each district: on non-fasting days, cabbage soup with beef; on fasting days, a thin porridge with smelt, buckwheat porridge, and bread with salt. With each food distributor there was an internal-guard officer with two privates to keep order. At first up to 2,000 portions a day were handed out. Once stoves were set up in the houses, firewood was issued. A sewing workshop was established with the garrison battalion, where they sewed armyaks and sheepskin coats. Other clothing and footwear were distributed as well.
Construction of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow was completed. Architects: A.A. Mikhailov and O.I. Bove.
On the basis of the Moscow dramatic troupe, the Maly Theatre was founded in Moscow. In October, in the newly rebuilt house of the merchant V.V. Varin—the Maly Theatre—the first performance of the imperial troupe took place.
Another meeting of the leaders of the Southern Society took place at the Contract Fair in Kyiv. The question of ways to eliminate the reigning house and all its members was discussed. Pestel, Bestuzhev-Ryumin, the Podzhio brothers, Davydov, and Shveykovsky intended to kill Alexander I at a review in Bila Tserkva and, having stirred up unrest in the troops, to march on Kyiv and Moscow. Pestel believed that, by exterminating the royal family, he would be able to compel the Senate and the Synod to recognize the secret society as a provisional government that would establish a new order. The royal review in Bila Tserkva was canceled, and therefore this new plan would have no practical consequences.
A.S. Griboyedov wrote the comedy "Woe from Wit".
A.S. Pushkin continued to write poetry; he was kept under police surveillance and his letters were secretly inspected. He began an affair with Vorontsov's wife, who was ready to help him leave for foreign lands. At times he vanished on ships—drinking and carousing for three days at a stretch. In March, Vorontsov wrote letters about the need to send Pushkin as far away as possible, to some other province. Vorontsov ordered Pushkin, like a rank-and-file official, to travel through several districts to collect information about locusts. After returning, the poet tried to resign, citing "poor health". By order of the Tsar, Pushkin was struck from the list of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "for bad conduct". In July it was decided to exile him to his parents' province, to Pskov Governorate, under strict supervision by the local authorities. In November, Pushkin's parents, who had honestly tried to fulfill their written undertaking that they would keep "vigilant and caring supervision" over their son, after numerous scandals left Mikhaylovskoye. This year Pushkin would write the poem "The Gypsies".
Pavel Yegorovich Chekhov was born, a serf. While still young, he, together with his entire family, would be redeemed from serfdom by his father.
5 April — the Russo-American treaty on Alaska was concluded. Freedom of navigation and fishing was restored, but Russian possessions were limited by the 54th parallel.