Zubov, Platon Aleksandrovich

Born Nov. 15 (26), 1767; died Apr. 7 (19), 1822. Russian state figure. The last of Catherine II’s favorites.

An intriguer and inept administrator, Zubov nevertheless enjoyed immense power. He was governor-general of Novorossiia and for some time was commander in chief of the Black Sea fleet. Catherine II bestowed on Zubov enormous estates and tens of thousands of serfs; she decorated him with all the Russian orders and with the title “most illustrious prince.” The death of Catherine II in 1796 put an end to his career.