The Russian abacus was brought to France around 1820 by mathematician Jean-Victor Poncelet, who had served in Napoleon's army and had been a prisoner of war in Russia.
ðə ɹˈʌʃən ˈæbækəs wʌz bɹˈɔːt tə fɹˈæns ɚɹˈaʊnd wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti baɪ mˌæθɪmɐtˈɪʃən dʒˈiːnvˈɪktɚ pˈɑːnsɛlɪt, hˌuː hæd sˈɜːvd ɪn nɐpˈoʊlɪənz ˈɑːɹmi ænd hɐdbɪn ɐ pɹˈɪzənɚɹ ʌv wˈɔːɹ ɪn ɹˈʌʃə.