Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky (February 22 (March 5, New Style), 1703 -- August 6 (August 17), 1768) a Russian poet, who laid foundations of classical Russian literature.

His treatise of 1735 "Новый и краткий способъ къ сложенью российскихъ стиховъ" ("A new and brief way for composing of Russian verses") and subsequent ones marked the transition from syllabic versification to metric verse, more suited to the sound of the Russian tongue.

His theory was brilliantly confirmed by poetical writings of his genial contemporary Mikhail Lomonosov.