Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia

Who was Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia?

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia was the fifth child and the fourth son of Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Maria Alexandrovna. Destined to a naval career, Alexei Alexandrovich started his military training at the age of 7. By the age of 20 he had been appointed lieutenant of the Russian Imperial Navy and had visited all European military ports of Russia. In 1871 he was sent as a goodwill ambassador to the United States and Japan.

In 1883 he was appointed general-admiral. He had a significant contribution in the equipment of the Russian navy with new ships and in modernizing the naval ports. In 1905, after the defeat in the Battle of Tsushima he was relieved of his command. He died in Paris in 1908.