Nicolae Istrate (1818-1861) was a nobleman politician, a man of culture who left great marks in the lives of the people of Rotopănești, Suceava, in the middle of the 19th century. Politically speaking, he was rarely understood by his contemporaries, because of his anti-unionist vision. Culturally speaking, he helped in the development of the peasants of Suceava, building schools for their children. He has full credit for creating the Music and Declamation Conservatory, the first institution of this kind in the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Last but not least, Nicolae Istrate had a prodigious literary activity, as he wrote many manuals, poems and historical plays. Through his entire activity, Nicolae Istrate had a significant contribution to the development of education and culture, earning a place of honor in the history of this land.