Prince Boris Kurakin (1676–1727) was a close associate and brother-in-law of Peter I, the first permanent ambassador of Russia abroad; a Full Privy Councillor.
With the outbreak of the Great Northern War, he took part in the campaign against Narva, then participated in the siege and capture of Noteburg, Nienchanz, and Narva; in 1703, he was promoted to major in the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment. In 1705–1706, he was abroad for medical treatment and visited Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Upon his return to Zholkva on January 19, 1707, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment and, in the same year, was sent to Italy on a diplomatic mission - to insist on the Pope’s non-recognition of Stanisław Leszczyński as King of Poland. With the start of the campaign of Charles XII against Russia in 1708, he returned to the army to command the Semyonovsky and Astrakhan regiments in Prince A. Menshikov’s division; in 1709, he commanded the Semyonovsky Regiment in the Battle of Poltava.
From 1709 to 1712, B. Kurakin served as Russia’s representative in London, Hanover, and the Hague. Beginning with 1716, he served as Ambassador to Paris. In 1722, Peter the Great, setting out on his campaign against Persia, entrusted him with the leadership of all Russian ambassadors accredited to European courts.
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Boris Kurakin with the Twelve Collegia building in St. Petersburg in the background.
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Printing method |
Format of the envelope |
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Offset |
114 × 162 mm |