Alexander von Benckendorff

Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christoph Graf von Benckendorff (Russian: Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф, romanized: Aleksander Khristoforovich Benkendorf, 4 July [O.S. 23 June] 1781 or 1783 – 5 October [O.S. 11 September or 23 September] 1844) was a Russian cavalry general and statesman of Baltic German descent. He was also the adjutant general of Alexander I and a commander of partisan (Kossak irregular) units during the French invasion of Russia. He is most frequently remembered for his later role, under Nicholas I, as the founding head of the Gendarmes and the secret police in Russia known as the Third Section.