Prince Nikolai Borisovich Galitzin (Russian: Николай Борисович Голицын, alternatively transcribed Golitsyn, Golitsïn or Golitsin; 8 December/19 December 1794 – 22 October/3 November 1866)[1] was a Russian aristocrat of the Galitzin family and a military officer. He was a military historian, an amateur musician, and is known particularly for his commissioning three string quartets — opp. 127, 130 and 132 — from Ludwig van Beethoven, which are among the composer's group of late string quartets.