Boris Kurakin

The connections he made while in Muscovite court life led him to marry the sister of Eudoxia (Peter's first wife).

[5][6] His long and honourable diplomatic career began in 1707, when he was sent to Rome to induce the pope not to recognize Charles XII's candidate, Stanislaus Leszczynski, as king of Poland.

[citation needed] From 1708 to 1712, he represented Russia at London, Hanover, and the Hague successively, and, in 1713, was the principal Russian plenipotentiary at the peace congress of Utrecht.

[4] "The father of Russian diplomacy",[5] as Kurakin has justly been called, was remarkable throughout his career for infinite tact and insight, and a wonderfully correct appreciation of men and events.

Notably, he prevented Great Britain from declaring war against Peter's close ally, Denmark, at the crisis of the struggle.