Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov (Михаи́л Илларио́нович Воронцо́в) (1714 - 1767) was a Russian statesman and diplomat, who laid foundations for the fortunes of the Vorontsov family.

On the disgrace of Bestuzhev, Vorontsov was made imperial chancellor in his stead. Though well-meaning and perfectly honest, Vorontsov as a politician was singularly timorous and irresolute, and always took his cue from the court. Thus, under Yelizaveta Petrovna he was an avowed enemy of Prussia and a warm friend of Austria and France; yet he made no effort to prevent Peter III from reversing the policy of his predecessor. Yet, he did not lack personal courage, and endured torture after the revolution of July 9, 1762, rather than betray his late master. Having promoted his niece Elizabeth as a favourite mistress of Peter III, he naturally greatly disliked his wife Catherine, and at first refused to serve under her, though she reinstated him in the dignity of chancellor. When he found that the real control of foreign affairs was in the hands of Nikita Panin, he resigned his office in 1763.

Mikhail Voronzov may be said to have revived the fortunes of his ancient and illustrious family. His name is preserved in the lavish St Petersburg palace he commissioned to the imperial architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. He squandered most of his personal fortune upon that edifice but was subsequently constricted to sell it to the crown for the lack of funds required to complete its interior decoration. His niece Catherine was on intimate terms with her royal namesake, and his nephew Alexander Romanovich Vorontsov likewise attained the dignity of imperial chancellor in the early years of Alexander I's reign.

References

External link

• Online museum of the Vorontsov Family

1714 births | 1767 deaths | Russian nobility | Foreign Ministers of Russia

ミハイル・ヴォロンツォフ