Alexander Samoylov

{{Short description|Russian statesman and general (1744–1814)}} {{no citations|date=March 2025}} [[Image:Alexander Samoylov.jpg|thumb|right|Portrait of Count Alexander Samoylov]] [[File:Samoylov Alexander Nikolaevich.jpg|thumb|right|''Portrait of Alexander Samoylov'' by [[Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder]] ([[The State Hermitage Museum|Hermitage]])]] [[Count]] '''Alexander Nikolayevich Samoylov'''{{efn|Known as '''Aleksandr Nikolaevich Samoilov''' as well (see [[Romanization of Russian]]).}} ({{langx|ru|Александр Николаевич Самойлов}}; 1744 – 1 November 1814) was a Russian general and statesman. He distinguished himself in the [[Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792]] and was the [[prosecutor general of the Russian Empire]]. He was a relative of [[Grigory Potemkin]].

==Biography==

Alexander Samoylov was born into the family of senator Nikolay Samoylov. He started his military service in 1760 as a soldier of [[Leib-Guard]] [[Semyonovsky Regiment]]. Later he was moved to the frontline forces and took part in the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1768–1774]] and, for his part in the taking of [[Silistra]], received the [[Order of Saint George (Russia)|Order of St. George]] of 4th degree.

The rise to power of his relative [[Prince Potemkin]] led to a comital title being bestowed upon Samoilov in 1775. After that, he obtained quick promotion: in 1775 he was appointed a member of commission for the trial of [[Yemelyan Pugachev]]. Also he was promoted to ''kamer-yunker'' ([[cadet]]) and became the chairman of the [[State Council of Imperial Russia]], which existed in the reign of [[Catherine II of Russia|Catherine II]] in 1776–1787. In 1783 he commanded the [[Crimean]] [[Chasseur]] Corps and was prominent in the campaign that led to the [[annexation of the Crimean Khanate by the Russian Empire]].

He was [[Lieutenant-General]] during the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1787–1792]], commanding five infantry regiments, two corps of chasseurs, seven [[Cossack]] regiments, and forty cannons. In 1788, he distinguished himself in the [[Siege of Ochakov (1788)|taking of Ochakov]] and was awarded the Order of St. George of 2nd degree. In 1789 he took part in the taking of [[Bendery]] and [[Kaushany]], serving under Prince Potemkin. He received the [[Order of Alexander Nevsky]] for that campaign. On 12 December 1790, he commanded the left wing of the army of [[Alexander Suvorov]] in the [[siege of Izmail|storm of Izmail]] and was awarded the [[Order of St. Vladimir]] of 1st degree.

For his efforts in bringing about the peace treaty with the [[Ottoman Empire]], Catherine II personally decorated him with the [[Order of St. Andrew]]. On 17 September 1792, he was appointed [[Prosecutor General of the Russian Empire]] of the [[Governing Senate|Senate]], replacing the seriously ill prince [[Alexander Vyazemsky]]. Upon his accession to the throne, emperor [[Paul I of Russia|Paul I]] dismissed Samoylov.

Alexander Samoilov married princess [[Troubetzkoy]] and had one son, Nicholas, who did not leave issue from his marriage to [[Yuliya Samoylova (countess)|Countess Yuliya Skavronsky]]. [[General Raevsky]] was his nephew.

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==Sources== * {{Efron|Самойлов, Александр Николаевич}} * {{RBD}}

==External links== * {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20060131215420/http://www.genproc.gov.ru/ru/about/history/historiy/index.shtml?show_item=59 Biography at the Official site of the Office of Public Prosecutor]

{{s-start}} {{succession box | before=[[Alexander Vyazemsky]] | title=[[List of Justice Ministers of Imperial Russia|Generals-Prosecutor]] | years=1792 – 1796 | after=[[Alexey Kurakin]]}} {{s-end}}

[[Category:18th-century nobility from the Russian Empire]] [[Category:19th-century nobility from the Russian Empire]] [[Category:Imperial Russian Army generals]] [[Category:1744 births]] [[Category:1814 deaths]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Second Degree]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)]]