, 1790 He distinguished himself during the
Sixth Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774) at the battles of
Larga and
Kagula in 1770. In 1783, he was appointed Russian
minister at
Vienna, but in 1785 was transferred to
London. Vorontsov soon attained great influence and authority in
Great Britain.
Ambassador to the United Kingdom On the accession of
Paul I in 1796, Vorontsov was raised to the rank of
ambassador extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary and was awarded immense estates in
Finland. Neither Vorontsov's detention of the Russian squadron under Makarov in British ports nor his refusal, after the death of
Alexander Bezborodko, to accept the dignity of imperial
chancellor could alienate the favor of Paul. On 28 December 1796, Vorontsov had a private audience of
George III to notify him of the death of Catherine the Great and Paul's accession. It was only when the
emperor himself began to draw nearer to
France that he began to consider Vorontsov as incompetent to serve Russia in
England, and in February 1800 all the
count's estates were confiscated.
Alexander I on his accession in 1801 at once reinstated him, but ill health and family affairs led him to resign his post in 1806.
Later life From his resignation as Ambassador in 1806 until his death in 1832, he continued to live in London. Besides his valuable
Note on the Russian War and numerous letters, Vorontsov was the author of an autobiography and
Notes on the Internal Government of Russia. ==Personal life==