Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov
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His Serene HighnessPrince Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov | |
|---|---|
 Alexander MenshikovbyFranz Krüger | |
| Born | 26 August 1787 |
| Died | 2 May 1869(aged 81) Saint Petersburg,Russian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service/ | Imperial Russian Army Imperial Russian Navy |
| Years of service | 1809–1856 |
| Rank | Adjutant general Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Turkish War (1806–12) Napoleonic Wars Russo-Turkish War (1828–29) Crimean War |
| Awards | Order of St. George |
Prince Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov(Russian:Князь Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Ме́ншиков;26 August 1787 – 2 May 1869) was a Russian nobleman, military commander and statesman. He was madeadjutant generalin 1817 and admiral in 1833.
A great-grandson ofAlexander Danilovich Menshikov,Duke of Ingria,and acognaticdescendant of the Princely House ofGolitsyn(another of his great-grandfathers was PrinceMikhail Golitsyn,the military governor ofÅboduring the Russian occupation in theGreat Northern War). Menshikov entered theRussianservice as attaché to the embassy atViennain 1809. He became close toTsar Alexander Iand accompanied him throughout his campaigns againstNapoleon.In 1817 Menshikov was appointed actingQuartermaster generalof theGeneral Staff.In 1823, he was transferred to theministry of foreign affairs.Menshikov retired from army service in 1824.[1]
During the initiation of theRusso-Persian War of 1826–28and the success ofAbbas Mirza's initiative in Tehran, Menshikov was placed under house arrest. He was appointed head of theNaval Headquartersandcabinet ministerbyTsar Nicholas I.He distinguished himself at theSiege of Varnain 1828 when an exploding Turkish cannon shell emasculated him.[2]In 1830 he became a member of theState Council.In 1831 Menshikov held the post ofGovernor-General of Finland.He mainly devoted himself to naval matters.[1]His bad influence on the development of theRussian Navystalled its technical progress and combat training.
In 1853, Menshikov was sent on a special mission toConstantinople,[3]and when theCrimean Warbroke out he was appointedcommander-in-chiefon land and sea. He commanded theRussian armyatAlmaandInkerman[1]and showed incompetence and lack of military talent. On 15 February 1855 Menshikov was removed from command and replaced by PrinceMikhail Dmitrievich Gorchakov.Between December 1855 and April 1856, he held the post of Governor General ofKronstadtand then retired. He died inSt. Petersburg.
He was created Prince (Fürst) in theFinnish nobility,being the only person of the rank of prince to be registered in theFinnish House of Nobility.
The first FinnishsteamshipFurst Menschikoffwas named after him.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcChisholm 1911.
- ^Royle, Trevor (1999). "2-Menshikov's Mission".Crimea: The Great Crimean War, 1854-1856.Little, Brown and Company.ISBN0316648493.
- ^Badem, Candan (2010)The Ottoman Crimean War (1853–1856),ISBN90-04-18205-5,pp. 72–79
Sources[edit]
- Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 134.
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