1-156-721 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Count Witte, Russian statesman, c1901-1903. Russia's Minister of Finance from 1892-1903, Sergey Sergey Yulyevich Witte (1849-1915) promoted the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the general modernisation of the Russian empire. In 1905 he represented Russia at the negotiations which ended the Russo-Japanese War, and after the political unrest of that year was appointed Prime Minister when the Tsar agreed to the establishment of the Duma (parliament). In 1906, desiring a more conservative regime, Nicholas II replaced Witte as premier with Ivan Goremykin.