Prince Viktor Pavlovich Kochubey (); ( – ) was a Russian statesman and close aide of Alexander I of Russia. Of Ukrainian origin, he was a great-grandson of Vasily Kochubey. He took part in the Privy Committee that outlined Government reform of Alexander I. He served in London and Paris embassies as counsel, then as Ambassador to Turkey. In 1798 he was appointed to the board of College of Foreign Affairs and was made Count next year, but then Paul I of Russia exiled him. At the start of the reign of Alexander I, he joined the liberal Privy Committee that outlined Government reform of Alexander I. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1801–1802 and also Minister of the Interior until 1812, then in 1819–1825. Since 1827 he was the President of the State Council and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers. In 1834, he was granted the rank of Chancellor of the Russian Empire. Biography Early years Kochubey was born in Poltava province, in the ancestral homestead of Dykanka, in the family of Pavel Kochubey (1738–1786) and Ulyana Andreevna Bezborodko (1742–1777). The great-grandson of the general scribe Vasily Kochubey, who was executed in 1708 on charges of denunciation of myrmidon in the pursuit of treason. Pavel Kochubey, who headed the Poltava court, gave his sons the ancient names of Apollo and Victor. Their childless uncle Alexander Bezborodko, who was actually in charge of Russia's foreign policy at the time, took care of their upbringing and education. In 1775 he invited his nephews to St. Petersburg. Viktor studied at the private boarding House de Villeneuve, at the same time in 1776 was recorded for service in the Preobrazhensky Lab-Guard regiment. Bezborodko destined for his nephew's diplomatic career. To finish his education, he was sent to Geneva, where he was under the supervision of Italinsky. In 1784, Kochubey briefly served as an adjutant of Potyomkin. In the same year, he began his diplomatic career in the Russian mission in Sweden. He found time to attend lectures at Uppsala Universitet. In September 1786 he received the court title of chamber-junkie and was a member of Catherine II's entourage during her trip to Crimea. Early career In 1788 he was assigned to a mission in London under the direction of Count Vorontsov. Having been allowed to travel to Europe to continue his education, he visited Switzerland, Holland and France. In early