Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia ( 1871 – 1899) was the third son of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria of Russia. Childhood George was named after his uncle, King George I of Greece. He was brought up in a spartan fashion with his siblings in the English manner. They slept on camp beds, rose at six, and usually took cold baths (being occasionally allowed a warm bath in their mother's bathroom). Breakfast usually consisted of porridge and black bread, mutton cutlets or roast beef with peas. Baked potatoes were served for lunch; and bread, butter and jam at tea-time. George and Nicholas, his brother, had a sitting-room, dining room, playroom, and bedroom, all simply furnished. The only trace of ostentation was an icon surrounded by pearls and precious stones. Because of his parents' happy marriage, he was brought up in an atmosphere of love and security missing in many royal households at the time. On 27 May 1883, George's parents were crowned in a ceremony in the Uspensky Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow. The Emperor and Empress received the homage of the Imperial Family, including their sons, Nicholas and George. The family lived mostly in the security of the palace at Gatchina. Education, career and health George was considered to be the most clever of the Imperial children, and outgoing like his mother. George and Nicholas shared the same tutors but studied in adjoining rooms. They followed the course of the Academy of the Russian General Staff, their tutors being distinguished professors. Their English teacher, Charles Heath, had once been tutor to their uncles, Grand Dukes Sergei and Pavel. Both brothers spoke and wrote perfect English. From Mr. Heath they acquired a love of sport, particularly shooting and fly-fishing. They also spoke fluent French and passable German and Danish. George displayed signs of a promising career in the Navy before falling ill with tuberculosis in 1890. The Emperor and Empress both decided to send Nicholas and George on a nine-month-long trip to Japan in 1890. George would go as a naval cadet and Nicholas to complete his education by seeing the world. They left Gatchina on 4 November 1890. Nicholas and George first went by warship to Athens where they were joined by their cousin, Prince George of Greece. From there, they traveled to Egypt then to India. From Bombay in India, Nicholas telegraphed that his brother