Count Pavel Pavlovich Demidov, 2nd Prince of San Donato (; 9 October 1839, Frankfurt am Main / Bad Kissingen – 26 January 1885, Pratolino, Florence) was a Russian industrialist, jurist, philanthropist and nobleman of the House of Demidov. He was the only child of Finnish philanthropist Aurora Karamzin and Prince Pavel Nikolaievich Demidov. Life Early life Paul Pavlovich was six months old when his father died. Paul was a sensitive, beautiful, lively and versatile young man with a varied and short-tempered character. His education was planned by his mother and supervised by a governor. Experts were hired to teach individual subjects. Paul became interested in horses as a child and he took riding lessons, having the privilege of riding the horse of Grand Duchess Maria, due to his mother's close relations to the Imperial family. He succeeded in obtaining a law degree in St. Petersburg in 1860. He worked for the state for a short time, e.g. as Extraordinary Secretary to the Russian Delegations in Vienna and Paris. Paul's father's younger brother Anatole Demidov lived permanently in Florence. To secure the possession of his valuable art collection and other Demidov property, he made Paul his sole heir. King Victor Emanuel accepted the inheritance of the title of Prince of San Donato to Paul. Paul also received the same title from Alexander II in Russia. Paul also became Imperial Master of the Hunt and Privy Councillor, like his father. Bachelor life During Paul's years as a bachelor, he has been portrayed as a captivating personality, but also as a proud Demidov and bragger. Getting to know Uncle Anatole was not good for Paul. He led Paul into the world of gambling in the Paris aristocracy and into the arms of expensive mistresses. Paul devoted himself to leading the extravagant life of an young aristocrat at gambling casinos and hotels; at his homes in Paris and in the high society favoured spa town of Deauville. Because of his volatile nature, he got into trouble time and time again - even in a duel with a Spaniard, which mother Aurora had to settle. Alarming information about Paul's behaviour was also carried to the relatives and to the court in Russia. Aurora settled in Paris for the winter seasons between 1863 and 1865 in an attempt to control her son's life. In order to pay Paul's enormous gambling debts, she had to sell Le