Baron
Maximilian von Alopaeus (also
Magnus Martin Alopäus; 1748—1822) (,
Alopeus Maksim Maksimovich) a Russian
diplomat, born at
Vyborg and educated at
Åbo, afterwards at
Göttingen, was intended for the ecclesiastical profession, but his employment as secretary by Count
Nikita Ivanovich Panin, Russian ambassador at the Swedish court, was the first step in a gradual rise through the political ranks. In 1783, Alopeus was appointed resident-minister at the court of the Bishop of
Lübeck, where he maintained the correspondence between
Tsesarevich Paul and
Frederick II. In 1789, Alopeus was sent to Berlin where he stayed for 6 years, gained favor from
Frederick William II, and secured the signing of the allied treaty between Russia and Prussia. He was named minister
plenipotentiary at the court of Berlin, by the Empress
Catherine, in 1790.