Alexei Araktcheyeff, count, a Russian statesman, born in 1769, died May 3,1834. He was of an obscure family, was educated in the military school of St. Petersburg, entered the artillery, and reached in it the highest rank. He was a favorite of Paul L, and for a short time governor general of St. Petersburg, but was dismissed on account of his insufferable harshness. Paul made him commander of his favorite regiment of guards at Gatchina, an imperial residence in the environs of the capital. Suspicious of danger, Paul the day before his murder sent an order for Araktcheyeff and his regiment. The courier was detained by the conspirators, and Araktcheyetf reached the barriers of the capital too late. Alexander, the successor of Paul, kept Araktcheyelf near his person, and he remained unshaken in his master's favor. He was energetic and active, but hard and utterly distrustful. The military colonies introduced into Russia under Alexander, were created and organized by Araktcheyeff amid bloodshed and cruelties. During the last years of the czar's reign Araktcheyeff became virtual ruler of the empire, issuing laws and ukases on blanks with the imperial signature.

Soon after Alexander's death he was ordered to confine his residence to his estates at Gru-zino. He left the bulk of his large fortune to a military school founded by him in Gruzino, and $20,000 to serve, with the accumulated interest, as a prize for the best history of the reign of Alexander, 100 years after his death. It is supposed that this part of the will was annulled by Nicholas.