Prince Shcherbatov began his military service in 1796, and only four years later the 25-year-old guardsman was appointed commander of one of the infantry regiments in St Petersburg. During the Russo-Austro-French war of 1806-1807, he took part in battles against Napoleon's troops at Golomin, Lanzberg and Preussisch-Eylau. For his courage and daring he was awarded the order of St George, Fourth Class, and St Vladimir, Third Class. During the Turkish campaign of 1810 he was seriously wounded during the siege of the fortress of Shumla.
In 1812, Shcherbatov was put in command of the 18th infantry division under General Tormasov, and he distinguished himself in battles at Brest-Litovsk and Kobrin and, during the foreign campaigns of 1813-1814, at Thorn, Koenigswartha, Zobten, Brienne and Soissons.
In 1825, on returning to Russia after a long journey through Western Europe, Shcherbatov was put in command of the 2nd Infantry Corps. During the suppression of the Polish uprising in 1830-1831, he played a prominent role in the defence of the Zheltkovsky crossing.
As military governor-general of Moscow, Shcherbatov concerned himself with protection of the environment and child labour. On his initiative, a commission was set up to discover which riverside factories were polluting the city's rivers. The petition addressed to the Emperor to prohibit child labour at night won imperial support, and in 1845, on the recommendation of the Committee of Ministers, Nicholas I issued a decree obliging the owners of factories "at which work is done at night not to put young workers of 12 years and less on shiftwork from midnight to six in the morning".
During the governorship of Shcherbatov, construction work continued according to the architectural plan drawn up by his predecessor. In 1843-1844 the question was raised of laying out a park in the Sokolnichya and Olyenya Woods.
On 10 October 1843, Prince Shcherbatov was awarded the order of St Andrew for "consistently zealous, excellent service over many years, his ardour and willingness to undertake the duties of chief administrator of Moscow temporarily laid upon him".
On 6 May 1848, Prince Shcherbatov resigned due to "failing health", but he retained the title of member of the State Council.
Prince Shcherbatov was buried in the cemetery of the Donskoi Monastery in Moscow.
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