Aleksey Petrovich, Count Bestuzhev-Ryumin

Aleksey Petrovich, Count Bestuzhev-Ryumin (born June 1 [May 22, Old Style], 1693, Moscow, Russia—died April 21 [April 10], 1766, Russia) was a diplomat and statesman who controlled Russia’s foreign affairs during the reign of the empress Elizabeth. Sent by Peter the Great to Copenhagen and Berlin for his education, Bestuzhev began his diplomatic career in the service of the Elector of Hanover at the Congress of Utrecht, which met in 1712 to end the War...