The Baltic Germans had attempted to open the university throughout the 18th century, but their efforts were thwarted, firstly by the post-war economic chaos, and in the second half of the century by the political considerations of Russia’s central authorities.
Baltisakslased olid teinud katseid ülikooli avamiseks küll kogu 18. sajandi vältel, kuid algul takistas seda sõjajärgne majanduslik laos, sajandi teisel poolel aga Vene keskvalitsuse poliitilised kaalutlused.