Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov

Who was Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov?

Prince Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menschikov was a Finnish-Russian nobleman, military commander and statesman. He was made adjutant general in 1817 and admiral in 1833.

A great-grandson of Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, Duke of Ingria, and a cognatic descendant of the Princely House of Galitzine. Aleksandr entered the Russian service as attaché to the embassy at Vienna in 1809. He became close with Tsar Alexander I and accompanied him throughout his campaigns against Napoleon. In 1817, Menshikov was appointed acting Quartermaster general of the General Staff. In 1823, he was transferred to the ministry of foreign affairs. Menshikov retired from army service in 1824.

During the initiation of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the prevail of Abbas Mirza's initiative in Tehran, Menshikov was placed under house arrest. He was appointed head of the Naval Headquarters and cabinet minister by Tsar Nicholas I. He distinguished himself at the Siege of Varna and in 1830 became a member of the State Council. In 1831, Menshikov held the post of Governor-General of Finland. He mainly devoted himself to naval matters.