Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov was a Russian military and statesman. He was born in St. Petersburg into an aristocratic family. After receiving a home education and briefly studying at Moscow University, he entered military service in the Life Guards in 1856. He took part in the final stage of the Caucasian War and later served in Turkestan, where he distinguished himself in military operations and was promoted to the rank of major general. Upon returning to the capital, he held command positions in the Guards and participated in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. He was a close associate of the future Emperor Alexander III and, after the latter’s accession to the throne, headed the imperial security service. From 1881 to 1897, he served as Minister of the Imperial Court and Appanages, while also overseeing the state stud farms and carrying out administrative reforms. In 1890, he was promoted to General of Cavalry. In 1905, he was appointed Viceroy of the Caucasus and Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus Military District. During the revolutionary unrest of 1905–1906, he took measures to stabilize the situation in the region. At the outbreak of the First World War, he formally headed the Caucasus Army but delegated operational command to his generals. In 1915, he was relieved of command and appointed to serve among the generals and admirals attached to the Emperor. He was one of the major landowners of the Russian Empire. The Bakhrushin Theatre Museum collection preserves archival documents and working correspondence of Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov.