A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Daschkoff, Catharine Romanowna
DASCHKOFF, CATHARINE ROMANOWNA,
Princess of, was descended from the noble family of Worenzoff, and was the early friend and confidant of Catharine the Second, of Russia. She was born in 1744, and became a widow at the age of eighteen. She endeavoured to effect the accession of Catharine to the throne, but at the same time, was in favour of a constitutional limitation of the imperial power. In a military dress, and on horseback, she led a body of troops to the presence of Catharine, who placed herself at their head, and precipitated her husband, Peter the Third, from the throne. The request of the Princess Daschkoff to receive the command of the imperial guards, was refused She did not long remain about the person of Catharine. Study became her favourite employment; and, after her return from abroad, in 1782, she was made director of the Academy of Sciences, and president of the newly-established Russian Academy. She wrote much in the Russian language, and promoted the publication of the Dictionary of the Russian Academy. She died at Moscow, in 1810.
Her courage and decision were extraordinary. Although her exertions in Catharine's favour had been repaid by ingratitude, coldness, and neglect, yet the empress did not hesitate, when a conspiracy was formed to dethrone her, of which she thought the Princess must be cognizant, to write her a long and flattering letter, in which she conjured her, in the name of their friendship, to reveal the projects against her, promising the Princess full pardon for all concerned. The indignant Princess replied to the four pages she had received in four lines "Madam, I have heard nothing: but, if I had, I should beware of what I spoke. What do you require of me? That I should expire on the scaffold? I am ready to ascend it."