Aleksandr Butakov papers, 1869-1914

Aleksandr Butakov was born in 1881 to Vera Vassilevna Davu(y)doff and Rear Admiral Ivan Ivanovich Butakov, and was one of the last of the famous Butakov marine officer dynasty. Tsar Alexander III served as Aleksandr Butakov's godfather at his christening. Aleksandr grew up in St. Petersburg. In 1902 he graduated from the Marine Corps. His title was Naval Officer, Senior Lietenant Aleksandr Ivanovich Butakov, commander of the 4th company. He served on the Imperial yacht Standhart, and was one of the closest Naval officers to the Imperial Family. Aleksandr was one of Tsar Nicholas II's favorite walking companions, referenced frequently in the Tsar's diary. Alexander was married to Aina Ottovna Lindholm, daugher of famous Swedish shipbuilder, Otto Lindholm. Aleksandr and Aina had one son, Nikita born May 9, 1908. In December 14, 1914, during World War I, Butakov was killed during military action near Vyschegrod, Germany. He was deeply mourned by the Royal Family, the Empress Alexandra sending a telegram of grief and sympathy to Aleksandr's wife, Aina Butakova. The Tsar, his daughters GD Olga Nikolaevna and GD Tatiania Nolaevna, as well as The Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna, the Dowager Queen of Greece, and two sisters of the Tsar all attended Aleksandr's funeral in St. Petersburg. He was survived by his wife, Aina Lindholm Butakova and his son, Nikita Butakov who emigrated from Vladivostok to Hong Kong, and later to San Francisco. By 1930, they were living in New York City where Nikita worked as a bank teller and where Aina died in 1971. Nikita died in Spokane, Washington in 1974.