Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menshikov
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A great-grandson of Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, Aleksandr entered the Russian service as attache to the embassy at Vienna in 1809. He became close with Alexander I and accompanied the emperor throughout his campaigns against Napoleon. In 1817, Menshikov was appointed acting General Quartermeister of the General Staff. In 1823, he was transferred to the ministry of foreign affairs. Menshikov retired from army service in 1824.
He then was appointed head of the Naval Headquarters and cabinet minister by Nicholas I. In 1830, Menshikov became a member of the State Council. In 1831, Menshikov held the post of Governor General of Finland. He mainly devoted himself to naval matters and exerted very bad influence on the development of the Russian Navy, stalling its technical progress and combat training.
In 1853, Menshikov was sent on a special mission to Constantinople, and when the Crimean War broke out he was appointed commander-in-chief by land and sea. He commanded the Russian army at the Alma and Inkerman and showed incompetence and lack of military talent. On February 15, 1855, Menshikov was removed from command, and replaced by Prince Gorchakov. Between December of 1855 and April of 1856, he held the post of Governor General of Kronstadt and then retired. He died in St.Petersburg.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
External links
- The Menshikov Palace in St Petersburg (http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_9.html)
Categories: 1911 Britannica | Russian people stubs | 1787 births | 1869 deaths | Imperial Russian Navy admirals | Russian nobility
