Menschikoff Alexander Sergevitch

Menschikoff, Alexander Sergevitch, great grandson of the foregoing, was born in 1789, and early attained the rank of general. In 1825 the Czar Nicholas sent him as envoy to Persia, and he held a military command at the siege of Varna. In 1831 he became governor of Finland and admiral. When the dispute with Turkey as to the protection of the Holy Places grew to a bead, Menschikoff was sent to Constantinople as ambassador. He brought about the Crimean War (1854-56), and took command of the Russian forces. After his defeat at the Alma and the death of Nicholas, he was recalled, and lived in retirement until 1869. He was the head of the Old Russian party.