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Alexander von Benckendorff | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of by George Dawe | |
| Native name | Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф |
| Birth name | Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christoph Graf von Benckendorff |
| Born | 4 July 1781 Reval |
| Died | 5 October 1844 (aged 63) Dagö |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire |
| Service | Cavalry |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Semyonovsky Life-Guards Regiment |
| Commands | Partisan (Kossak irregular) units |
| Battles / wars | Patriotic War of 1812 |
| Awards | Order of the White Eagle |
| Spouse(s) | Elisaveta Pavlovna Donez-Sacharshevskaya |
| Children | 3 daughters |
| Relations | General Baron Christoph von Benckendorff |
Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christoph Graf[1] von Benckendorff (Russian: Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф, Alexander Khristoforovich Benkendorf, 4 July [O.S. 23 June] 1781 or 1783 – 5 October [O.S. 11 September or 23 September] 1844) was a Baltic German Cavalry General and statesman, Adjutant General of Tsar Alexander I, a commander of partisan (Kossak irregular) units during the War of 1812–13. However, he is most frequently remembered for his later role, under Tsar Nicholas I, as the founding head of the Gendarmes and the Secret Police in Imperial Russia.