Grigory Orlov
Grigory Orlov | |
|---|---|
Count Grigory Orlov, by Fyodor Rokotov | |
| Coat of arms | |
| Tenure | 1761 – 1772 |
| Full name | Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov |
| Other titles | Count |
| Known for | Overthrowing Peter III |
| Born | October 17, 1734 Bezhetsky Uyezd, Tver Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | April 24, 1783 (aged 48) Moscow, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Buried | Yuriev Monastery |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Residence | List of residences: – Estates in Kazan and Moscow governorates |
| Noble family | Orlov |
| Issue | Alexei Grigorievich Bobrinsky |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Ekaterina Nikolaevna Zinovieva |
| Parents |
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| Occupation |
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| Awards | Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (1762) Order of St. Andrew (1763) Order of St. Vladimir 1st class (1782) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1749 – 1783 |
| Rank | General-in-chief |
| Commands | Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment Life Guard Horse Regiment Chevalier Guard Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
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Prince Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov (Russian: Григорий Григорьевич Орлов; 17 October 1734 – 24 April 1783) was a Russian general and patron of arts who was Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (1772) and a favourite of Empress Catherine the Great. He was a leader of the 1762 coup which overthrew Catherine's husband Peter III and installed Catherine as reigning empress. For some years he was virtually co-ruler with her, but his repeated infidelities and the enmity of Catherine's other advisers led to his fall from power.
He patronised M. V. Lomonosov, D. I. Fonvisin, V. I. Bazhenov and gave them financial support. Honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts (since 1765). He collected paintings (including Rembrandt, P. P. Rubens, Titian), sculpture, Chinese, Japanese and Russian porcelain, hunting weapons, etc. (Orlov's collection has been preserved almost completely; it is now in the State Museum-Reserve "Gatchina" of the eponymous city). A large landowner, Orlov commissioned the construction of the Great Gatchina Palace.