Adolphe de Polier

Count Adolphe de Polier (1795 - 1830) was a French officer in the service of the Russian Imperial court from 1827, Chamberlain of Emperor Nicholas the Ist, he serves as vice-minister of Finance. Member of the Russian Academy of Science he organises scientific expeditions. During one of those in 1829 with Alexander von Humboldt, Polier discovered Russia's first diamonds. It was the first time Russia got an indication of its tremendous rich natural resources that drives today's Russian economy. Polier married Princess Barbara Shakhovskaya (1796 - 1870) in 1826, he resides on his property of Pargolovo - not far from Saint Petersburg - up to his death.