Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov (October 5 [O.S. September 24] 1737 – January 5 [O.S. December 24, 1807] 1808) is a Russian soldier and statesman, who rises to prominence during the reign of Catherine the Great.
Orlov serves in the Imperial Russian Army, and through his connections with his brother, becomes one of the key conspirators in the plot to overthrow Tsar Peter III and replace him on the Russian throne with his wife, Catherine.
The plot, carried out in 1762, is successful, and Peter is imprisoned under Alexei Orlov's guard.
He dies shortly afterwards in mysterious circumstances, and it is popularly believed Orlov had either ordered, or personally carried out, his murder.
Handsomely rewarded by Catherine after her accession, the Orlovs become powerful at court.
Alexei is promoted and takes part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74, commanding a naval expedition to the Mediterranean in 1770, which destroys the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Chesma.
For his success he is granted the honorific Chesmensky.
The Russian victory sparks off the Orlov Revolt in the Greek territories of the Ottoman Empire soon afterwards.
Orlov remains in the Mediterranean, and receives the unusual commission of seducing and then capturing 'Princess Tarakanoff', a pretender to the Russian throne.
Orlov is successful in doing so, and tricks her into boarding a Russian ship at Livorno, where she is arrested and transported to Russia.
Alexei's brother, Grigory, Catherine's lover before and after the coup takes place, falls from favor soon afterwards, and the Orlovs' power at court diminishes.
Alexei becomes a renowned breeder of livestock at his estates, developing the horse breed known as the Orlov Trotter, and popularizing the Orloff breed of chicken.
He leaves Russia after the death of Catherine and the accession of her son, Tsar Paul I, but returns after Paul's death and lived in Russia until his death in 1808.
