The future Russian diplomat and statesman, prince, chancellor, a member of the State Council and the Cabinet of Ministers, a member of the Imperial Academy of Science, a holder of the highest Russian and foreign orders Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov was born on June 4 (15), 1798 in Hapsal of Eastland province (at present Haapsalu, Estonia) in a family of Major-General Mikhail Alexeevich Gorchakov.