Count Semyon Vorontsov | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait bySir Thomas Lawrence, 1806 | |
| Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 25 May 1801 – 15 May 1806 | |
| Preceded by | Yakov Smirnov (asChargé d'affaires) |
| Succeeded by | Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov (asChargé d'affaires) |
| Russian Minister atVienna | |
| In office 1783–1785 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Semyon Romanovich Vorontsov (1744-06-26)26 June 1744 |
| Died | 9 July 1832(1832-07-09) (aged 88) London, England |
| Spouse | Ekaterina Alekseevna Seniavina |
| Relations | Alexander Vorontsov (brother) Elizaveta Vorontsova (sister) Yekaterina Vorontsova-Dashkova (sister) |
| Children | Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov Catherine Herbert, Countess of Pembroke |
| Parent(s) | Roman Larionovich Vorontsov Marfa Ivanovna Surmina |
Count Semyon Romanovich Vorontsov (orWoronzow;Russian:Семён Романович Воронцо́в; 26 June [O.S. 15 June] 1744 – 9 July 1832) was a Russiandiplomat from the aristocraticVorontsov family. He resided in Britain for the last 47 years of his life, from 1785 until his death in 1832, during which time he was the Russian ambassador to theKingdom of Great Britain from 1785 to 1800 and to theUnited Kingdom from 1801 to 1806.
Vorontsov's parents were Roman Larionovich Vorontsov (1717–1783) and Marfa Ivanovna Surmina (1718–1745).[1] Among his siblings were Imperial ChancellorAlexander Vorontsov,Elizaveta Vorontsova andYekaterina Vorontsova-Dashkova, the closest female friend ofCatherine the Great.[2]
He distinguished himself during the firstRusso-Turkish War atLarga andKagula in 1770. In 1783, he was appointed Russianminister atVienna, but in 1785 was transferred toLondon. Vorontsov soon attained great influence and authority inGreat Britain.[2]
Quickly acquainting himself with the characteristics of English institutions, with their ways and methods, he was able to render important services to his country. Thus, during the secondRusso-Turkish War from 1787 to 1792, he contributed to bringing about the disarmament of the auxiliaryBritish fleet, which had been fitted out to assist theTurks; and in 1793 obtained a renewal of the commercial treaty between Great Britain andRussia. Over the next three years, he irritated EmpressCatherine II with his vehement advocacy of the exiledBourbons, sharp criticism of theArmed Neutrality of the North, which he considered disadvantageous to Russia, and his denunciation of thepartitions of Poland as contrary to the first principles of equity and a shock to the conscience ofWestern Europe.[3]
On the accession ofPaul I in 1796, Vorontsov was raised to the rank ofambassador extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary and was awarded immense estates inFinland. Neither Vorontsov's detention of the Russian squadron under Makarov in British ports nor his refusal, after the death ofAlexander Bezborodko, to accept the dignity of imperialchancellor could alienate the favor of Paul. On 28 December 1796, Vorontsov had a private audience ofGeorge III to notify him of the death of Catherine the Great and Paul's accession.[4] It was only when theemperor himself began to draw nearer toFrance that he began to consider Vorontsov as incompetent to serve Russia inEngland, and in February 1800 all thecount's estates were confiscated.Alexander I on his accession in 1801 at once reinstated him, but ill health and family affairs led him to resign his post in 1806.
From his resignation as Ambassador in 1806 until his death in 1832, he continued to live in London.[3]Greville noted in his diary on 3 December 1829, ”Old Woronzow was Ambassador here many years, has lived here ever since, and never learnt a word of English.”[5]
Besides his valuableNote on the Russian War and numerous letters, Vorontsov was the author of an autobiography andNotes on the Internal Government of Russia.[3]
Vorontsov married Ekaterina Alekseevna Seniavina (1761–1784), a daughter ofAlexei Senyavin and Anna von Bradké. Before her death in 1784, they were the parents of:[2]
His wife died on 25 August 1784 inPisa. Count Vorontsov died on 9 July 1832. He was buried in thePembroke family vault in Marylebone, London, and a street in St. John's Wood, London, where he resided, is now called Woronzow Road.[1]
His son,Mikhail, continued his father'sAnglophile ways and was an eminent commander in the war against Napoleon and in the Russian subjugation of the Caucasus, for which he was further ennobled as a Russian Prince.[2]
Through his daughter Catherine, he was a grandfather of Lady Elizabeth Herbert (who marriedRichard Meade, 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam),Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea (who marriedElizabeth Ashe à Court-Repington), Lady Mary Herbert (who marriedGeorge Brudenell-Bruce, 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury),Lady Catherine Herbert (who marriedAlexander Murray, 6th Earl of Dunmore), Lady Georgiana Herbert (who marriedHenry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne), and Lady Emma Herbert (who marriedThomas Vesey, 3rd Viscount de Vesci).[2]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Bain, Robert Nisbet (1911). "Vorontsov s.v. Semen Romanovich Vorontsov". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 212–213.| Diplomatic posts | ||
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| Preceded by | Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom 1801–1806 | Succeeded by |
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