- Andrei Budberg
Count Andrei Yakovlevich Budberg ( _ru. Андрей Яковлевич Будберг) (1750-1812) was a Russian diplomat who served as Foreign Minister in 1806-07.
His ancestors moved to Russia in the 16th century from
Westphalia . Budberg was born inRiga and entered the military service in 1759. He participated in the Russo-Turkish war 1768-1774. In 1783 Budberg was promoted topodpolkovnik . The same year Rigagovernor-general Brown recommended Budberg to the Empress Catherine II as a diplomat. In fact, Budberg had been serving in the army as aninfantry officer and had no diplomatic experience. Brown did it because he was a good friend of Budberg's parents.In 1784 he was appointed a tutor to Catherine's grandson Alexander and held this position until 1795. In 1793 Budberg was sent to
Stockholm to arrange marriage of Catherine's granddaughterAlexandra Pavlovna and young king ofSweden Gustav IV Adolf . Initially consent was given, but later Gustav IV Adolf renounced the betrothal. Two years later Budberg was appointed ambassador in Sweden. In 1799 Catherine II died and Pavel I succeeded her. Pavel I disliked Budberg and soon he was forced to resign.In 1804 Alexander I appointed him to the State Council. Budberg was known for his distrust of Napoleon and in 1806 he became
Minister of Foreign Affairs . However, in 1807 when thetreaties of Tilsit were signed, he resigned and retired from politics.
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