Ernst Johann von Biron

Ernst Johann von Biron (1690–1772), a Courland nobleman, entered Anna Ivanovna's court and became her all-powerful favourite after she took the Russian throne in 1730; his dominance was dubbed the Bironovshchina. In 1737 he was elected Duke of Courland, ruling the duchy from Saint Petersburg.

Anna's will made him regent for the infant Ivan VI in October 1740, but within weeks Münnich's coup overthrew him and he spent 1740 to 1761 in exile. Peter III recalled him, and Catherine II restored him to Courland in 1763, which he passed to his son Peter in 1769.