Prince Nikolai Borisovich Galitzin (Russian: Николай Борисович Голицын, alternatively transcribed Golitsyn, Golitsïn or Golitsin; 8 December/19 December 1794 – 22 October/3 November 1866) was a Russian aristocrat of the Galitzin family and a military officer. He was a military historian, an amateur musician, and is known particularly for his commissioning three string quartets — Opp. 127, 130, and 132 (Nos. 12, 13, & 15 respectively) — from Ludwig van Beethoven, which are among the composer's group of late string quartets.
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Family
His parents were Boris Andreevich Galitzin and his wife Ana, and one of his sisters was the philanthropist Tatiana Potemkina. He graduated from the page corps in 1810 and became an officer of the Russian Army (Kiev Dragoon Regiment), joining his father and two brothers: Alexander and Andrey (in the Life Guards Horse regiment). He participated in July 1812, including the battles of Smolensk, Borodino, Tarutino, Vyazma, and the capture of Paris.
His son Yuri Nikolaevich Galitzin (1823–1872) was a composer and conductor.
Beethoven's commission
The prince had lived for a while in Vienna and knew the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. He played the cello; his wife was an accomplished pianist. He arranged piano works of Beethoven for string quartet and string quintet.