In the early 19th century, Ilya Baikov, the coachman of Alexander I, was known to all the residents of St. Petersburg. He served as the emperor's personal "driver" for almost his entire reign. Initially, Baikov was a serf of Dmitry Lukin, who later became a hero of the Battle of Afon in 1807. It was Lukin, upon entering the Naval Corps, who freed Baikov. In 1801, Ilya Ivanovich began his service in the royal stables. Together with Alexander I, he traveled to many regions of Russia and accompanied him on foreign trips.

However, Baikov became famous not only for this. He was known for his compassion and kindness, helping people who could not directly approach the emperor. Sometimes he would advocate for someone himself, and sometimes he arranged for the needy to be able to pass a petition to the tsar. Passing through a designated place, he would pretend that the harness had broken, and while he dealt with the "problem," the person had time to approach Alexander I. The tsar sometimes noticed this and joked: "Ilya, your jokes again!"

They also had disagreements. Alexander I rarely specified the exact address, usually only indicating the direction. But over the years of service, Baikov learned all the routes and once, not waiting for the command, said: "I know, Your Majesty." The sovereign got angry: "The coachman should know nothing but horses!" and ordered him to be arrested for a couple of days to reflect on his behavior.

Baikov's closeness to the emperor often led to amusing situations. For example, when Minister of Internal Affairs Kochubey was proposed as an honorary member of the Academy of Arts for his closeness to Alexander I, the vice-president of the academy, Alexander Labzin, suggested that this title should also be given to Baikov, noting that "he is not only closer than anyone, but also sits ahead of the sovereign." This remark cost Labzin his position. After the death of Alexander I, Baikov drove the wife of Nicholas I, and then retired, passing away peacefully at the age of 70.