The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-12-07
THE GRAND DUKE.
Biographical Sketch of Alexis, the
Grand Duke of Russia.

Biographical Sketch OF Alexis, the
Grand Duke of Russia.
The Duke is the third son of the Emper-
or Alexander | /. and the Empress Maria
Alandrovna, formerly princess Of Hesse.
The Emperor has been twice married and
has now large family, all the children Of
the present Empress. The eldest il the
Grand Duke Alexander, heir apparent who
was born on the 10th of March, 1916, four
years after the Emperor's second mar
riage; the second, the Grand Duke Nladi-
mir, born April 20, 1871; the third, the
Grand Duke Alexis, born January II,
1850; the fourth, the Grand Duchess
Marie, born October Il, 1863; the fifth,
the Grand Duke Sergia, born May II,
1866; and the youngest, the Grand Duke
Paul, born October 3, 1869. 1t is worth
relating that there was no little anxiety
attending the Grand Dukes birth The
Imperial family and the State officials were
at first overjoyed to hear the tidings from
the sick chamber that the Grand Duchess
was beyond danger, and that a Prince had
been born. The general delight and mu-
tual congratulations in the St. Petersburg
palace soon ceased however, on the news
coming soon after that the child was dead.
An hour later third messenger came
from the sick chamber, saying that the
court physicians had succeeded in bringing
to life what had at the moment of birth
appeared to be dead infant, and when
the Duke Alexander appeared at
the door of the salon, his third
son in his arms, the rejoicings
knew no bounds. The child was christened
soon after at the magnificent Cathedra! Of
st. Isaac, in St. Petersburg, as Colonel of
the Eka:herinebourg infantry regiment,
an honor conferred thus early only on
Princes of the blood imperial. Rarely
had more brilliant or distinguished as
sembly gathered in the cathedral. The
whole imperial family, including the EN-
peror and the Empress, and all the Grand
Dukes, were present. Most of the foreign
courts were represented by Ministers in
their robes of state, and the officers of the
Imperial Life Guard were stationed at reg
ular intervals in various parts Of the vast
building. For period Of several years af-
ter his birth the young prince was in very
precarious health, and it was scarcely
hoped that he would live till the years of
maturity. But his slender health has
grown more robust with each year In
1856 he accompanied his parents to Mos
COW, and was thcn-at their coronation
presented for the first time to the assembly
representatives Of the empire Upon the
return ofthe imperial family to st. Peters
burg the Grand Duke education was i'm
mediately commenced. Madame De
Bernard French lady, and Fraulcn
yon inlithchof, the daughter of
CORTLAND nobleman, were appointed as his
governess, since all the imperial children
of Russia are educated at home. Alexis
early showed great taste for the applica-
ton to study. Few months passed before
he was able to read easily Russian, German
and French, and speak them with consid-
cradle fuency. When farther advanced
he was placed under the tuition of Prof.
Farganof, who instructed him in mathe-
MATES and geography; Prof. Won Stein,
who taught him ancient and modern history,
and Mr.. Gordon, a Scotchman. from whom
he learned English. In the year 1862 he
accompanied his uncle the Grand Duke
Constantine, Grand Admiral Of the Rus
sian Navy, on trip to the Fortress of
Sweaborg. During a terrific storm, which
lasted eight hours. the young Duke dis
played so much iutrepidity and daring that
Co1stantinc, on his return to st. Peters
burg, urgently requested the Emperor to
appoint him to some position in the navy.
This the Emperor very reluctantly did,
after delaying for a long time, being fear
full Of the delicate constitution of the
Prince. Since then it has been his passion
TO be on shipboarl, and he has spent all
the time that his duties would permit him
on the water. The Dukes grandfather
was Nicholas l., the resoute aud warlike
Gar who oyerawcd the wide spread rebel
lion incident on his accession, and who
conducted the beginning of the famous
-
Crimean war against the allied powers.
The blood of Frederick the Great. of Prus-
STA, also flows in his veins, so that his dis
position should be worthy member of the
Imperial family of Russia, whose charac-
terlstic has ever been prediction for
war and military pursuits. Moreover. the
Duke is said to inherit much of his fathers
intellectual culture and polite tastes, so
that he comes naturally BY all the quail
ties SO laudable in General and a states
man. His Official positions are Captain
and Ald-decamp of the Emperor, and
Chief of the Ekatherinenbourr regiment Of
infantry, and Of the first squadron of the
fleet of Finland, Of none of which he is 50
proud as of a medal of honor given him
Tor rescuinG young lady from drowning,
at the imminent peril Of his own life.
Such incidents, revealing his generous dis
position, show how well-descrved in his
universal popularity among the Russian
people. His official title is His Imperial
llighness the Grand Duke Alexis Alex
androyieh, aud his rank in the imneria!
Russian navy is that Of first
Pcrils OF addressing Actresses.