The New Student's Reference Work/Gortchakoff, Prince Alexander Michaelovitch

Gortchakoff (gôr-chä-kof′), Prince Alexander Michaelovitch, a Russian statesman, was born at St. Petersburg, July 16, 1798. He was educated at the Lyceum of Tsarskoe-Selo, and became experienced in diplomacy under Nesselrode, whom he succeeded as minister of foreign affairs. In 1854-56, while minister to Austria, his efforts were instrumental in passing the Treaty of Paris. In the Polish rebellion of 1863 he decried foreign interference, and said that Russia should be allowed to settle her own internal affairs. For his decided stand in this matter he was made chancellor of the empire in July, 1863. He was known and admired throughout Europe, and was the most notable diplomat until the height of Bismarck's popularity. He was a member of the Berlin congress in 1878, and died at Baden-Baden, March 11, 1883. See Julian Klaczko's Two Chancellors.