Our hero was lucky to have many relatives, whose political preferences were diametrically opposed. He himself could become the author of grandiose reforms, but the monarch did not approve of his ideas.
The name of this statesman is not as well known as the names of his next of kin. He differed from them in a calm disposition and preferred service to intrigue. There was a moment when our hero could write his name in the history of the Russian state in golden letters, but the monarch's fears did not allow his daring dreams to come true.
Childhood
Sasha was born in September 1941. His father, Roman Vorontsov, recently helped the daughter of Peter the Great to carry out a coup d'état and ascend the throne. The empress knew how to be grateful, because her faithful servant hoped for high ranks and material well-being. The birth of an heir made him incredibly happy.
The boy grew up in a large family. He had three sisters and a brother. Children received good home education and education with an eye to the future. Parents wanted to see them at court. Papa also took care of leaving a rich inheritance to his descendants. He became famous as the main bribe-taker of the empire. Elizaveta Petrovna was indignant at his impudence, but did not dare to punish the one who had once brought her to power.
Youth
When Alexander was 15 years old, the teenager was enrolled in the Izmailovsky regiment. The young man mastered the art of war, but he was more attracted to art. The officer devoted his free hours to reading. In his library there was a place for both the classics and the most interesting works of his contemporaries. In 1756 he made translations of Voltaire's books, whose work was very popular and was not yet considered sedition.
The powerful parent wanted his son to make a career out of risky situations. In the war against Prussia, the brave Vorontsov took part as a tourist - in 1758 he visited the lands that were reclaimed from the Emperor Frederick. The ruined country did not make a strong impression on the guy. He got much more pleasure when he left the places of former battles and went on a trip to Europe.
Choice of profession
The young man's interest in foreign countries was highly appreciated by his uncle Mikhail. He decided to make his own contribution to the fate of the future general, and in 1759 he sent his nephew to the Strasbourg military school. After receiving his diploma, the benefactor paid for Alexandra's voyage to Paris and Madrid. At home, young Vorontsov presented his uncle with his notes, which described the management system in Spain. The work was so good that the older members of the family immediately decided that Sasha had no place in the army, he should become a diplomat.
In 1760 the Vorontsovs received the title of count from the Emperor of the Roman Empire Franz I. For a representative of a noble family, there was a place in the ranks of the Russian ambassadors - Alexander was appointed chargé d'affaires in Vienna. Departure from the capital was in his hands - too often there were quarrels at home. The son argued with his father, who was a supporter of serfdom.
Two sisters
After the coronation of Peter III, Vorontsov was sent to London. The aspiring diplomat was appointed minister plenipotentiary. Our hero owed such success to his older sister Elizabeth. She was the sovereign's mistress and could easily convince her gentleman of anything. The girl helped her brother and protected her from the likely persecution of her father, who was completely insolent in abuses of power.
The overthrow of Pyotr Fedorovich did not change anything for Alexander Vorontsov. His younger sister Catherine, when she was married, Dashkova, was a close friend of her namesake, who ascended the throne. The Empress figured out what the Vorontsovs are. Alexander Romanovich remained at his post, and his parent received a number of comments regarding his behavior. In 1779 the son of the bribe-taker became a senator. The only area in which our hero was not successful was his personal life. The title and position were limited in the choice of the bride, and the unwillingness to be a puppet in the hands of others forced one to think before marrying. The diplomat was unable to get a wife.
Not to court
Alexander Vorontsov managed to survive the turbulent era of Paul I while in retirement. The emperor was fascinated by the search for enemies at court, conducted strange negotiations with Napoleon and was not very interested in the biographies of the former ambassadors. After the accession of Alexander I, relations with Foggy Albion were revised. The younger brother of our hero has arrived in London. Alexander asked him to help make the young monarch friends with British colleagues.
At home, the Anglomaniac and the free-thinker were received kindly. The young emperor summoned him to his office at the beginning of 1801. He also invited the famous writer Alexander Radishchev. They were ordered to draw up a draft constitution for Russia. The comrades developed an ideal code of laws, which provided for the limitation of the power of the monarch, the abolition of serfdom and a number of interesting reforms. Alexander Pavlovich carefully read the document, awarded Vorontsov with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and the following year appointed him head of the Commission for the Drafting of Laws. No changes were made to the state structure.
In his old age, Alexander Vorontsov became interested in household affairs. The parent left him luxurious possessions in the Vladimir province and in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. The statesman showed the talent of an organizer and an industrialist, his villages flourished. At the end of 1805 he died at the Andreevskoye estate near Vladimir.
