Count Alexander Cheremeteff

A member of an old family of the high Russian aristocracy, A.D. Cheremetieff graduated from the Corps des Pages in 1881 and was assigned as a cornette (second lieutenant of cavalry) to the Chevaliers-Gardes regiment. A cavalry officer, from 1884 to 1889, he temporarily left the service, then he was assigned as aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief of the Guard and the military region of Saint Petersburg. In 1889, he was seconded to the Minister of War. Aide-de-camp to the emperor in 1902, he was appointed major-general of the Imperial Suite in 1909. He left the service for health reasons in April 1917. Above all, he was a music lover, musicologist and patron of the arts. He founded several orchestras and concert societies, including the Imperial Chapel Music, organized popular symphonic concerts, and subsidized scholarships for the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. In 1910, he created the “Musical and Historical Society” which animated the musical life of the capital by presenting the works of contemporary composers to the public. He was also, from 1892 to 1894, the first president of the Russian Federation of Firefighters. In 1918 he retired to Finland. Ten years later, he emigrated to Paris and died in 1931. Holder of numerous decorations, in particular officer of the Legion of Honor.

He rests in the cemetery of Sainte-Geneviève des Bois, with his wife, Countess Maria Feodorovna née Heyden (1863-1939) they have 4 children: Elisabeth (1884-1962), Dmitry (1885-1963), Alexandre (1886-1944 ) and Georges (1887-1971) and with Alexandre Alexandrovitch de Fermor, (1921-2001), Maria Pavlovna (Marie-Josette) de Fermor, née Mortet, (1925-1972)