Career
After graduating from the Imperial Alexander Lyceum, he entered the Ministry of Justice. He served as Minister of Justice from July 19, 1915 to July 22, 1916 and was responsible for the trial of Vladimir Sukhomlinov. He became Minister of Interior from July 22, 1916 to September 29, 1916 (New Style).
He was (and became known as) the uncle of Alexei Khvostov.