Andrei Osterman
| Andrey Osterman | |
|---|---|
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs (Russia) | |
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In office 1734-1740 |
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| Monarch |
Empress Anna Emperor Ivan VI Grand Duchess Anna Leopoldovna |
| Preceded by | Gavriil Golovkin |
| Succeeded by | Alexey Cherkassky |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann 9 June 1686 |
| Died | 31 May 1747 (aged 60) |
Count Andrey Ivanovich Osterman (Russian: Андрей Иванович Остерман) (9 June 1686 – 31 May 1747) was a German-born Russian statesman who came to prominence under Tsar Peter I of Russia (Peter the Great) and served until the accession of the Tsesarevna Elizabeth. His foreign policy was based upon the Austrian alliance. General Admiral (1740; dismissed 1741).
Born in Bochum in Westphalia, of middle-class parents, his original name was Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann. Osterman became secretary to Vice-Admiral Cornelis Kruse, who had a standing commission from Peter the Great to pick up promising young men, and soon thereafter entered the tsar's service. The young man's knowledge of the principal European languages made him the right hand of Vice-Chancellor Shafirov, whom he materially assisted during the troublesome negotiations which terminated in the peace of the Pruth (1711). Osterman, together with General Bruce, represented Russia at the Åland peace congress of 1718. Shrewdly guessing that Sweden was at exhaustion point, and that Heinrich von Görtz, the Swedish plenipotentiary, was acting ultra vires, he advised Peter to put additional pressure on Sweden to force a peace.
In 1721 Osterman concluded the Peace of Nystad with Sweden, and was created a baron for his services. In 1723 he was made vice-president of the ministry of foreign affairs for bringing about a very advantageous commercial treaty with Persia. Peter also constantly consulted him in domestic affairs, and he introduced many administrative novelties, e.g. "the Table of Ranks," and the reconstruction of the College of Foreign Affairs on more modern lines.
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