Aleksey Dolgorukov

Prince Alexey Alekseevich Dolgorukov (May 14, 1767 – August 11, 1834) was a Russian statesman, Actual Privy Councillor, Simbirsk (1808–1815) and Moscow (1815–1817) Governor, Senator (1817), Prosecutor General (1827–1829), manager of the Ministry of Justice (1827–1829), member of the State Council (from 1829).

He belonged to the poor senior branch of the Dolgorukovs, descended from Prince Alexey Grigorievich, exiled to Berezov. Born in the third marriage of the latter's youngest son, Alexey (1716–1792). He had brothers, princes: Gregory, Ivan, Pavel, Yakov, Andrey and sisters, princesses: Catherine, the wife of the guard captain Peter Menshikov, and Anna, the wife of Nikolai Matrunin.

Biography According to Vigel, "up to the rank of colonel, he was in military service; but, knowing that he was born a more peaceful, albeit more active citizen than a soldier, he moved to the state one".

In the 9th year from birth, he was signed up in the artillery (January 1, 1776), from where he was subsequently transferred to the guard, in which, 15 years after the date of enlistment, he received the rank of ensign (1791). Transferred to the army regiment as prime major (1795). Received the rank of lieutenant colonel and awarded the Order of Saint Anna, 3rd Degree and Commander of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (1798). Promoted to colonel (October 1, 1799).

He left military service with a transfer to the rank of Actual State Councillor (July 6, 1803). He was numbered in the heraldry (1805), then appointed prosecutor in the chapter of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. He was appointed as the Simbirsk Civil Governor (1808). From that time on, the official activities of Prince Alexei Dolgorukov began to draw attention to themselves.

When the urgent need for food was felt on the occasion of the War in Finland and the expected break with the West, he bought bread (about 58 thousand sacks) for the treasury on favorable terms, which he delivered by water to Rybinsk and Petersburg (1808 and 1809). Assisting in the establishment of cloth factories in the Simbirsk Governorate (Ignatovka), he, with the same benefit for the treasury, supplied a considerable amount of soldier's cloth to the department of the commissariat.

Awarded with the Order of Saint Anna, 1st Degree (1810). In the Highest rescript addressed to him, gratitude was expressed to him (September 17, 1811).

He formed the Simbirsk Militia, which he commanded before going on a campaign (1812). Made the purchase of horses for cavalry and artillery at reasonable prices, despite the general shortage and high cost of horses (1813).

He was transferred as Civil Governor to Moscow (May 17, 1815). In July he moved into his governor's residence, which had been renovated after the "French Ruin". He ordered the installation of milestones along the Petersburg Highway (1816) and began repairing it within the Moscow Governorate (1818).

Thanks to his energetic economic activity, Prince Dolgorukov became known, according to Vigel, as "the greatest businessman". Lermontov's fellow soldier in the Life Guards Hussar Regiment. From 1833, he was married to Ekaterina Malinovskaya (1811–1872), daughter of the historian and writer Alexey Malinovsky. Endless revelry and extravagance of Prince Rostislav led to a break with his wife. Their son Vladimir (1837–1894) was married to the daughter of the Minister of War, Count Dmitry Milyutin; Yuri (1807–1882) – Vilna, Olonets and Voronezh Governor; George (March 2, 1808–?); Sergei (1809–1891) – Kovno, then Vitebsk Governor, Actual Privy Councillor (1872); Gregory (1811–1853) – Lieutenant Colonel of the General Staff, retired from 1839.

After three years of mourning, Prince Alexei Alekseevich entered (1817) a new marriage with Varvara Nikolaevna (1796–1880), daughter of Major General Nikolai Tekutyev and Princess Elizabeth Dolgorukova; since 1835, she was a lady of the Order of Saint Catherine.

In this marriage, sons were born: Alexey (1818–1853); Nikolay (1819–1887); Dmitry (1825–1909).