Background
Osterman was born on June 9, 1686 in Bochum, Westphalia, of middle-class parents. His father was a Protestant pastor.
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Andrey Ivanovich Osterman
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also known as
Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann
Education
Osterman was educated in the University of Jena.
Career
While at the university Osterman killed a fellow student and fled to Holland, where in 1704 he entered the service of Peter the Great of Russia. Ostermann identified himself completely with the interests of his adopted country. A talented diplomat, he earned rapid promotion and was largely responsible for the favorable peace terms secured by Russia from Sweden at Nystad (1721). After Peter's death in 1725, Ostermann became vice-chancellor and acquired extensive authority over foreign and domestic affairs. In a milieu dominated by unscrupulous, power-loving courtiers, he distinguished himself as a conscientious and disinterested administrator and did much to maintain Peter's reforms. In the constitutional crisis of 1730 Ostermann helped to reestablish autocratic rule. His foreign policy was on the whole pacific. He renounced Russia's recent acquisitions in Persia, but he continued Peter's interventionist policy in Poland, aided by an alliance with Austria (1726) which formed the basis of his diplomatic system. However, in the war with Turkey (1735-1739) this alliance brought Russia relatively little advantage, and the ensuing dissatisfaction helped his rivals, who looked to France and Prussia, to undermine Ostermann's position. On the death of Anna Ivanovna in 1740, his influence came to an end; in November 1741 he was arrested and sentenced to death. On the scaffold he was reprieved and exiled to Berezovo, Siberia, where he died on May 21, 1747.
Achievements
Politics
All the useful reforms introduced between 1730 and 1740 are to be attributed to Osterman's initiative. He improved the state of trade, lowered taxation, encouraged industry and promoted education, ameliorated the judicature and materially raised the credit of Russia. As foreign minister he was cautious and circumspect, but when war was necessary he prosecuted it vigorously and left nothing to chance. The successful conclusions of the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1735) and of the war with Turkey (1736-1739) were entirely due to his diplomacy.
Membership
Member of the Supreme Privy Council
References
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Born
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Died
May 31, 1747 (aged 60) -
Nationality
Russian -
Religion
Protestant