Maria Nesselrode

Countess Maria von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven, also Maria Nesselrode (1786-1849), was a noblewoman and courtier of the Russian Imperial Court.

[1][2] Maria was born as the eldest daughter of Count Dmitry Guryev (1758-1825), who served as Imperial Chamberlain and Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire, and his wife, Countess Praskovya Nikolaevna Saltykova (1764-1830).

[3] She served as lady in waiting to Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna of Russia.

She was married to German nobleman in the service of Catherine the Great, Count Karl von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven, who was Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs for many years and hence politically powerful.

[2] She was a leading socialite in Saint Petersburg society and court life, hosted an influential salon,[4] had high positions within philanthropy, and was described as politically active through her spouse.