BY COUNT D'ORSAY, PUBLISHED BY HUNT & BOSKELL, LONDON, 1846

Nicholas I, third son of Paul and Maria Feodorovna, was born at Gatchina on 25 June/6 July 1796. His succession to the throne after the death of his oldest brother Alexander in 1825 was confused by the renunciation of the throne by his second brother Constantine. The Decemberist revolt was crushed ruthlessly and this set the tone of the remainder of the reign. He married princess Charlotte of Prussia in 1817 and by her had seven children. He died during the Crimean War at St. Petersburg on 18 February/2 March 1855.

Alfred, Count d'Orsay (1801-1852) produced a number of marble portrait busts and reliefs and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1843 to 1848. His bronzes include busts and equestrian figures of Wellington and Napoleon, Nicholas I, the later Napoelon III and Daniel O'Connell.