Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev (1754, 1826) was an outstanding Russian statesman who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Napoleonic Wars. He is also known as a patron, collector, and founder of the Rumyantsev Museum, as well as a supporter of the first Russian round-the-world expedition. Rumyantsev held the position of State Chancellor.

Having received a home education, Rumyantsev began his military career in the Life Guards Horse Regiment, and in 1768 he was transferred to the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment. In January 1769, due to his father's merits, he was promoted to the rank of ensign. In August 1772, Rumyantsev became a chamber junker and, along with his brother Sergey, was at the court of Empress Catherine II, participating in the empress's 'hermitage gatherings.' In 1774 and 1776, he traveled across Europe, attended lectures at Leiden University, and met Voltaire. In 1776 and 1781, Rumyantsev served again at the court, becoming close to the heir apparent Paul Petrovich.

From 1781 to 1795, Rumyantsev was in diplomatic service in Germany, where he detailed the political situation in his reports to Petersburg and advocated for the acceptance of emigrants into Russian service. Returning to Russia in 1795, he was appointed to the Commission for discussing changes to the copper coinage, and in April 1796, he headed the State Loan Bank and became a senator of the 1st Department of the Senate. In May 1796, he joined the Committee for the repayment of state debts and the search for new funds to meet state needs.

Emperor Paul I, favoring Rumyantsev, appointed him as court chamberlain in November 1796, then as chief court chamberlain of the Imperial Court, and soon as an actual privy councilor. In December 1797, Rumyantsev became one of the directors of the Auxiliary Bank for the nobility.

Under Alexander I, Nikolai Petrovich was appointed a member of the Permanent (from January 1810, State) Council and the 1st Department of the Senate. In 1801 and 1809, he was also the director of water communications, during which the Obvodny and Ligovsky canals in Petersburg, a water supply from Mytishchi to Moscow, as well as bridges on the Moika River and other important structures were built.

With the establishment of ministries in Russia in 1802, Rumyantsev became Minister of Commerce, holding this position until June 1811. In February 1808, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the same time, he headed the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. In September-October 1808, he accompanied Alexander I to a meeting with Napoleon I in Erfurt, where he negotiated with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs J. B. Champagny. In 1809, thanks to his diplomatic efforts, the Treaty of Friedrichshamn was signed, securing Finland for Russia, for which Rumyantsev received the title of State Chancellor. In July 1812, he concluded an alliance treaty with Spain. In 1813, after the war with Napoleon, Rumyantsev requested retirement, which was granted to him in August 1814, retaining the title of State Chancellor.

For his services, N. P. Rumyantsev was awarded many of the highest Russian orders and was an honorary member of various societies, including the Free Economic Society, the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and the Society of Lovers of History and Antiquities of Russia. He became a well-known collector of books, manuscripts, ethnographic and archaeological materials, paintings, and sculptures, which formed the basis of the Rumyantsev Museum.

Rumyantsev gathered around him prominent Russian historians and archaeographers. In 1811, he established the Commission for the printing of state documents and treaties at the archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. Thanks to his initiative and funding, a number of Russian monuments were published, representing significant historical and cultural value.

Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev died in Petersburg in 1826 and was buried in his estate in Gomel, Mogilev Province. After his death, there was no will, but his brother Sergey Petrovich, fulfilling Nikolai's oral wishes, transferred his collection to the state, which became the foundation of the Moscow Rumyantsev and Public Museums. This collection laid the groundwork for the history of the Russian State Library.