Sergey Ivanovich Donaurov was a composer and poet. He was educated at the Page Corps. After graduating, he entered the diplomatic service. He worked at the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an attaché, and later at the Russian embassy in Italy. After returning from his posting abroad, he transferred to the Main Directorate for Press Affairs, where he served as a censor and later as a member of the Directorate’s council, responsible for reviewing dramatic works. He wrote poetry in both Russian and French. He is the author of the original French lyrics of the well-known romance “A Pair of Chestnut Horses” (“Para gnedykh”). He composed a number of musical works set to poems by Fyodor Tyutchev.