High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia, 26 April 1859 28 January 1919 was the eldest son of Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia and a first cousin of Alexander III. A scholar and an eminent historian, he made many valuable contributions to the study of Russian history in the reign of Tsar Alexander I. His works, published in Russian and French, include: diplomatic documents of Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon; a life of Tsar Alexander's close friend, Paul Strogonov and biographical studies of Alexander I and his wife Elizabeth Alexeievna. A political liberal, he veered towards what he called authoritarian republicanism . He fought tirelessly for reform from within the system. His reformist views made him an odd ball within his own family, and contemporary recognition of his accomplishments came more from abroad than at home.