Semyon Romanovich Vorontsov

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Semyon Romanovich Vorontsov (Семён Романович Воронцов in Russian) (1744 - 1832) was a Russian diplomat and brother of Alexander Romanovich Vorontsov and Ekaterina Dashkova.

Portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1806.

Semyon Vorontsov distinguished himself during the first Russo-Turkish War at Larga and Kagula in 1770. In 1783, he was appointed Russian minister at Vienna, but in 1785 was transferred to London, where he lived for the rest of his life. Vorontsov enjoyed great influence and authority in Great Britain.

Quickly acquainting himself with the genius of English institutions, their ways and methods, he was able to render important services to his country. Thus, during the second Russo-Turkish War he contributed to bring about the disarmament of the auxiliary British fleet, which had been fitted out to assist the Turks, and in 1793 obtained a renewal of the commercial treaty between Great Britain and Russia. Subsequently, his extreme advocacy of the exiled Bourbons, his sharp criticism of the Armed Neutrality of the North, which he considered disadvantageous to Russia, and his denunciation of the partitions of Poland as contrary to the first principles of equity and a shock to the conscience of Western Europe, profoundly irritated the empress.

On the accession of Paul I he was raised to the rank of ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, and received immense estates in Finland. Neither Vorontsov's detention of the Russian squadron under Makarov in British ports nor his refusal, after the death of Alexander Bezborodko, to accept the dignity of imperial chancellor could alienate the favor of Paul. It was only when the emperor himself began to draw nearer to France that he began to consider Vorontsov as incompetent to serve Russia in England, and in February of 1800 all the count's estates were confiscated. Alexander I on his accession at once reinstated him, but ill health and family affairs induced him to resign his post in 1806. From that time till his death in 1832, he continued to live in London.

Besides his valuable Note on the Russian War and numerous letters, Vorontsov was the author of an autobiography and Notes on the Internal Government of Russia. His son Michael continued his family's Anglophile traditions, while his daughter Catherine married George Augustus Herbert, 11th Earl of Pembroke, 8th Earl of Montgomery.