Grand Chancellor of Russian Empire. He served in many positions during the 18th century in the Russian government, but most recognized as the Grand Chancellor of Russian Empire and chief architect of Catherine the Great's foreign policy after the death of his predecessor, Nikita Panin. He was born in Glukhov, Cossack Hetmanate, Russian Empire, which is in present-day Ukraine, in a family of Ukrainian Cossack nobility. He received his initial education at home and later at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. Upon completing his education, he entered the public service as a clerk in the office of Count P. A. Rumyantsev, then Governor-general of Little Russia, whom he accompanied to the Turkish War in 1768. He was present at the engagements of Larga and Kagul, and at the storming of Silistria. Following the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774, he was recommended to Russian Empress Catherine the Great, and the following year, she appointed him her petition-secretary. He had the opportunity of impressing the empress with his brilliant gifts, the most remarkable of which were exquisite manners, a marvelous memory and a clear and pregnant style. At the same time, he set to work to acquire the principal European languages, especially French, of which he became a master. It was at this time that he wrote his historical sketches of the Tatar wars and of Ukraine. In 1780 he accompanied her on her journey through Novorossiya, meeting the Emperor Joseph, who urged him to study diplomacy. On his return from a delicate mission to Copenhagen, he presented to the empress "a memorial on political affairs," which comprised the first plan of a partition of Turkey between Russia and Austria. This document was transmitted almost word for word to Vienna as the Russian proposals. He followed this by Epitomised Historical Information concerning Moldavia. For these two state papers, he was rewarded with the posts of "plenipotentiary for all negotiations " in the foreign office and postmaster-general. On the death of Catherine the Great, her son, Paul I, entrusted him with the examination of the late empress's private papers, and shortly afterwards made him a prince of the Russian Empire, with a correspondingly splendid apanage. On the retirement of Osterman, he received the highest dignity in the Russian Empire, that of imperial chancellor. He was the only Russian minister who retained the favor of Paul I to the last. During the last two years of his life, control of Russia's diplomacy was entirely in his hands. His advocated peace with all the European powers; however, the emperor's growing aversion to this pacific policy, and Bezborodko submitted his resignation. Paul I refused to accept his resignation, sending him abroad for the benefit of his health, had not a sudden stroke of paralysis prevented him from making the trip. He died at the age of 52.