Nikolay Rumyantsev | |
|---|---|
 A portrait byGeorge Dawe | |
| Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire | |
| In office 1808–1814 | |
| Chancellor of the Russian Empire | |
| In office 1809–1826 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1754 |
| Died | 1826 |
| Parent(s) | Pyotr Rumyantsev,Yekaterina Rumyantseva [ru] |
| Education | Leiden University |
| Signature |  |
Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev (Russian:Никола́й Петро́вич Румя́нцев; 3 April 1754 – 3 January 1826), born inSaint Petersburg, wasRussia's Foreign Minister andChancellor of the Russian Empire in the run-up toNapoleon's invasion of Russia (1808–12). He was the son of Field MarshalPyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky from theRumyantsev comital family.
Rumyantsev and his brother were provided with basic education at home. Their mentor wasFriedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm. In 1774 they went toLeiden University where they studied history, law and language.[1]
Rumyantsev was the first envoy of Russia to theHoly Roman Empire after Russia became aguarantor of the imperial constitution through theTreaty of Teschen (1779). He arrived in 1782 accredited as ambassador to theElectoral Rhenish Circle,Upper Rhenish Circle,Swabian Circle,Franconian Circle,Electorate of Mainz,Electorate of Cologne,Palatine Zweibrücken,Duchy of Württemberg,Margraviate of Baden andLandgraviate of Hesse-Kassel. Although he acted as the representative of Russia as guarantor of the peace, he was considered by Germans to be a partisan ofAustria.[2]
During the first years of the 19th century, Rumyantsev was very influential withAlexander I and his motherMaria Fyodorovna, serving as Minister of Commerce (1802–1811) and President of theState Council (1810–1812).
As Foreign Minister (appointed 1808), he advocated a closer alliance with France. Represented Russia at theTreaty of Fredrikshamn. On receiving the news ofNapoleon's invasion of Russia (1812), he suffered a stroke and lost his hearing. When Napoleon entered Moscow, he advised the Emperor to dismissKutuzov and to seek peace at any cost. Eventually Alexander lost all confidence in Nikolay Petrovich, who retired in 1814 just before theCongress of Vienna.
Nicholas Rumyantsev died on 3 January 1826 in hisneo-Palladian palace onEnglish Quay in St Petersburg. His statue stands in front of theGomel Palace inBelarus.
During the years of his foreign service, Nikolay Petrovich amassed a huge collection of historical documents, rare coins, maps, manuscripts, andincunabula which formed a nucleus of theRumyantsev Museum in Moscow (subsequently transformed into theState Russian Library). Showing a keen interest in Russian history, Rumyantsev produced the first printed publications of several old Russian chronicles and ancient literary monuments of theEastern Slavs. He presided over a circle of young antiquaries (such asPavel Stroev andIvan Snegirev) that later drifted into theSlavophile camp.
Rumyantsev also became a notable patron of the Russian voyages of exploration. He sponsored thefirst Russian circumnavigation of the globe. He also funded theRurik expedition led byOtto von Kotzebue.[3] As a result, his name came to be attached to such exotic things as:
In 1811 he commissioned sculptorCanova to create astatue of peace in recognition of the peacemaking efforts of his family.[4][5]
privately funded and directed as a scientific expedition by a Russian nobleman
Count Nikolai P. Rumyantsev and the Commission of the Statue of Peace
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