Friedrich Wilhelm Count von Buxhoevden (Russian: Федор Федорович Буксгевден, Fyodor Fyodorovich Booksgevden; other spellings: Feodor Buxhoeveden, Buxhœwden) (September 14, 1750 – August 23, 1811) was a Russian Infantry General and a government official. Buxhoeveden commanded the Russian armies during the Finnish War.
The Buxhoevedens were a Baltic German family from Estonia, with roots tracing to Bexhövede, Lower Saxony. His wife, countess Natalie, was the illicit daughter of Grigori Orlov by a lady of the court, but her mother – contrary to some claims – was not Empress Catherine, instead just a member of the Apraksin family. Buxhoeveden's granddaughter Varvara Nelidova was a mistress of Nicholas I of Russia for no less than 17 years.
Buxhoevden took part in the Battle of Austerlitz as a commander, contributing to the Allied failure to defeat Napoleon by being drunk during the battle.[1] In 1808 he served as Commander-in-Chief in conquest of Finland and led Russian troops during the initial battles of Finnish War.
He received the castle and lands of Koluvere, after Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel had deceased there in 1786 as outcome of foul play. Another of his manors was Ligovo near St. Petersburg.
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