Gortschakoff

Gortschakoff, Peter, born 1790, served in the campaigns of 1812-13-14, suppressed an insurrection in the Caucasus (1820), took part in the Turkish War of 1828-29, and from 1839 to 1852 was engaged in the administration of Eastern Siberia, where he effected great reforms. He offered his services, though broken in health, at the outbreak of the Crimean War, took command of the 6th Army Corps, and led the left wing both at Alma and Inkermann. Retiring finally in 1855, he died at Moscowin 1868. Gortschakoff, Michael, born in 1792, passed through the same military experiences in early life as his brother. In 1830 he was sent intc Poland as general of artillery, received a wound at Grochow, assisted in the capture of Warsaw, and ultimately became military governor of the province (1846). He was employed in suppressing the Hungarian patriots in 1849, and in 1852 came to London on the occasion of Wellington's funeral. In 1853, on the resumption of hostilities between Russia and Turkey, he entered the Principalities as commanderin-chief, and proceeded to besiege Silistria. Next year he assumed the direction of affairs in the Crimea in place of Prince Mentschikoff, and displayed much skill in the defence of Sebastopol. In 1856 he returned to Warsaw, and died there in 1861. Gortschakoff, Alexander, the younger brother, was born in 1800, and entered the diplomatic service whilst very young. At the age of 24 he was secretary of the Russian Legation in London.

He was next transferred to Florence, and thence went to Vienna. At Wurtemberg he negotiated the marriage between the late king and the Grand Duchess Olga. The year 1850 found him representing Russia at the German Diet, and in 1854, as ambassador extraordinary, he undertook at Vienna the negotiations for peace, returning to take the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. For twelve years Gortschakoff held a position in European politics scarcely inferior to that which Bismarck was destined to fill, but as internal troubles forced themselves more and more on the attention of the Tsar the influence of the diplomatist declined. In 1882 he resigned, and he died at Baden-Baden in the following spring.