Alexander Kurakin
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexander Borisovich Kurakin, sometimes spelled Kourakine was a Russian statesman and diplomat, a member of the State Council
(from 1810), ranked Actual Privy Counsellor 1st Class (see Table of Ranks).
Born in Moscow
to a long line of Russian diplomats, he was the great grandson of the famous Boris Kurakin
. He moved into St. Petersburg in 1764 following the death of his father, Boris Alexandrovich Kurakin. There he became acquainted with Great Prince (Grand Duke) Pavel Petrovich, future Emperor Paul I of Russia
, and remained one of his most trusted friends. This friendship, though, did not meet the approval of then reigning Catherine II
, and so Kurakin was forced to depart abroad. In 1776, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
After Catherine II's death Kurakin was allowed to return to St. Petersburg in 1796 and resumed his career, becoming Vice Chancellor in 1796. During the reign of Alexander I
Kurakin became the Ambassador of Russia in Vienna
in 1806. Two years later, he replaced Ambassador Pyotr Tolstoy
in Paris
.
, and warning the Tsar for upcoming war.
In 1810 and after he issued numerous notes to Tsar Alexander, warning him of the imminent war. After the last futile attempt to reconcile Russian-French relationship on his meeting with Napoleon on April, 15, 1812 and subsequent departure of Napoleon marking the start of the invasion of Russia, Kurakin resigned as the Ambassador.
In Paris' higher circles, Kurakin was famously referred to as a "diamond prince", due to magnificence and richness of his costumes. Interestingly, it was one of such costumes that actually saved his life during a fire that happened on a ball given by Schwarzenberg, the Austrian ambassador on July 1, 1810. When escorting women out of the blazing hall, he fell aground and was trampled over by panicking crowd, but his richly decorated coat has protected him from the intense heat.
Nevertheless, he was badly burned and was confined to bed for several months.
State Council of Imperial Russia
The State Council was the supreme state advisory body to the Tsar in Imperial Russia.-18th century:Early Tsars' Councils were small and dealt primarily with the external politics....
(from 1810), ranked Actual Privy Counsellor 1st Class (see Table of Ranks).
Born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to a long line of Russian diplomats, he was the great grandson of the famous Boris Kurakin
Boris Kurakin
Prince Boris Ivanovich Kurakin was the first permanent Russian ambassador abroad, and one of the closest associates of Peter the Great...
. He moved into St. Petersburg in 1764 following the death of his father, Boris Alexandrovich Kurakin. There he became acquainted with Great Prince (Grand Duke) Pavel Petrovich, future Emperor Paul I of Russia
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
, and remained one of his most trusted friends. This friendship, though, did not meet the approval of then reigning Catherine II
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, and so Kurakin was forced to depart abroad. In 1776, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
.
After Catherine II's death Kurakin was allowed to return to St. Petersburg in 1796 and resumed his career, becoming Vice Chancellor in 1796. During the reign of Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
Kurakin became the Ambassador of Russia in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1806. Two years later, he replaced Ambassador Pyotr Tolstoy
Pyotr Aleksandrovich Tolstoy
Count Pyotr Aleksandrovich Tolstoy was a Russian general and statesman.Pyotr Tolstoy came from the Oryol branch of the Tolstoy family, his father Alexander Tolstoy was a grandson of Count Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Ambassador in Paris
As Ambassador in Paris, Kurakin is known for two policical acts: taking an active part in the arrangement for the signing of the Treaty of TilsitTreaties of Tilsit
The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by Napoleon I of France in the town of Tilsit in July, 1807 in the aftermath of his victory at Friedland. The first was signed on 7 July, between Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Napoleon I of France, when they met on a raft in the middle of the Neman...
, and warning the Tsar for upcoming war.
In 1810 and after he issued numerous notes to Tsar Alexander, warning him of the imminent war. After the last futile attempt to reconcile Russian-French relationship on his meeting with Napoleon on April, 15, 1812 and subsequent departure of Napoleon marking the start of the invasion of Russia, Kurakin resigned as the Ambassador.
In Paris' higher circles, Kurakin was famously referred to as a "diamond prince", due to magnificence and richness of his costumes. Interestingly, it was one of such costumes that actually saved his life during a fire that happened on a ball given by Schwarzenberg, the Austrian ambassador on July 1, 1810. When escorting women out of the blazing hall, he fell aground and was trampled over by panicking crowd, but his richly decorated coat has protected him from the intense heat.
Nevertheless, he was badly burned and was confined to bed for several months.