Editing Alexander von Keyserling (section)

==Career==
Alexander von Keyserling was born on {{OldStyleDate|27 August|1815|25}} at the [[Kabile Manor|Kabillen Manor]], {{interlanguage link|Kabile, Latvia|lt=Kabillen|lv|Kabile}}, [[Courland Governorate]] (in present-day Kabile, [[Kuldīga Municipality]], [[Latvia]]), then part of the [[Russian Empire]]. His father was Count Heinrich Diedrich Wilhelm von Keyserling, 3rd Count of Rautenburg, was a spokesman, {{interlanguage link|Kreismarschall|de|Kreismarschall}} and {{interlanguage link|Landbotenmarschall|de|Landbotenmarschall}} in Courland, his mother was Baroness Anna Amalie Benigna {{interlanguage link|Nolde (noble family)|lt=von Nolde|ru|Нольде}}. His family was of [[Westphalia]]n origin and was originated in [[Herford]], they were considered part of the ''[[Uradel]]'', or old nobility. The first ever mentioned member was Albert Keserlink (1443-1467 or 1468), the mayor of [[Herford]]. Alexander belonged to the ''House of [[Rautenburg]]-[[Tāšu Padure|Telsen-Paddern]]'',{{sfn|Stavenhagen|1930|pp=139}} which was a subdivided branch of the Prussian comital branch.{{sfn|Stavenhagen|1930|pp=138}} The branch's founder Dietrich II von Keyserling, Herr auf {{interlanguage link|Okte|lt=Okten|lv|Okte}} und {{interlanguage link|Līguti|lt=Ligutten|lv|Līguti}}, was elevated to [[Graf|count]] in 1786.{{sfn|Stavenhagen|1930|pp=121}} Dietrich's father Heinrich Christian also inherited the title of ''Count of Rautenburg'',{{sfn|Stavenhagen|1930|pp=132}} although Alexander didn't inherit the title since he was the 10th child in the family, his elder brother Otto Ulrich Johann inherited the title.{{sfn|Stavenhagen|1930|pp=140}}

Alexander studied at the [[Humboldt University of Berlin]], here he met with future [[German Chancellor]] [[Otto von Bismarck]] and [[John Lothrop Motley]], with whom he became lifelong friends.

Alexander is considered to be one of the founders of Russian geology. He made many expeditions on behalf of [[Nicholas I of Russia]] in [[Estonia]], northern [[Russia]], and the [[Urals]] (1839-1846).<ref name=EDR/>

He was also a [[botanist]] and [[zoologist]] who wrote ''Die wirbelthiere Europa's'' (''[[Vertebrate]]s of Europe'') with [[Johann Heinrich Blasius]]. This work was published in 1840.<ref name="DWE"/>

Alexander's nephews include diplomat [[:de:Heinrich von Keyserlingk-Rautenburg|Heinrich von Keyserlingk]] and writer [[Eduard von Keyserling]]. [[:lv:Arhibalds fon Keizerlings|Archibald von Keyserling]], the first leader of the Latvian Navy, was his brother Eduard Ernst Hermann von Keyserling's grandson. Philosopher [[Hermann von Keyserling]] was his grandson.