born May 21, 1820, Radzivilov, Volhynia region, Russia
died Jan. 26, 1895, St. Petersburg
Russian foreign minister in the reign of Alexander III .
Succeeding Aleksandr, Prince Three Emperors' League with Germany and Austria-Hungary, but, when it lapsed (1887), he negotiated the Reinsurance Treaty with Germany only. When that alliance was not renewed (1890), he concluded a formal Russo-French agreement (1894) that became the basis for the Russo-Franco-British alliance against the Central Powers in World War I.