Grigori Orlov (17 October1734 - 24 April1783) was a Russian nobleman. He was one of Catherine II of Russia's first lovers and he and his brother led the conspiracy that removed Peter III from the throne and made her the empress. Catherine was deeply in love with him and gave him high military posts although he never had a decisive voice in state affairs. He was later replaced by others, like Potemkin. His brother, Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov was a distinguished commander of the Russian Naval Forces.
