In the autumn of 1871 alexis romanov the fourth son of tsar alexander ii of russia set sail from his homeland for an extended journey through the united states and canada a major milestone in us russia relations the tour also served duke alexiss family by helping to extricate him from an unsuitable romantic entanglement with the daughter of a poet. Alexis alexandrovich was born in 1850 and was the fourth son of his father who would become tsar alexander ii in 1855 he would be known as the grand duke alexis for his whole life he was 21 years old when he arrived in late november of 1871 in new york city for his grand tour of america. Alexis in america a russian grand dukes tour 1871 1872by lee a farrow. Download citation alexis in america a russian grand dukes tour 1871 1872 in the autumn of 1871 alexis romanov the fourth son of tsar alexander ii of russia set sail from his homeland . Her book alexis in america a russian grand dukes tour 1871 2 was published in december 2014 and examines alexiss visit to the united states one hundred and forty four years ago tsar alexander ii decided to send his fourth son alexis on a grand tour that included three and a half months in the united states