Alexandru B. Știrbei

Alexandru Barbu Știrbei, also rendered Alex. Știrbeĭ, Știrbey, or Știrbeiŭ (Francized Alexandre Stirbey; 1837 – March 13, 1895), was a Wallachian-born Romanian aristocrat, politician, businessman and agriculturalist, the son of Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei, Prince of Wallachia, younger brother of George Barbu Știrbei, and nephew of another Prince, Gheorghe Bibescu. After a short career in the French Army, he returned to the United Principalities and served terms in their Assembly of Deputies, inheriting the fortune left by his father. He established pioneering industries around his manorial estates of Buftea and Dărmănești, and became a guest, and sometime host, of literary meetings held by the political club Junimea.

Știrbei's father renounced all claims to the Romanian throne in the 1860s, and his entire family remained loyal to King Carol I. While caucusing with the Junimists, Știrbei also helped establish the Conservative Party, and served as its leader for three weeks in 1881. He was the Romanian Kingdom's Minister of Public Works and Minister of the Interior under Theodor Rosetti (1888–1889); he only served one more term in a cabinet, as Finance Minister under Ion Emanuel Florescu (1891). Știrbei personally dealt with the ramifications of the Strousberg Affair, which led him to participate in the creation of Romania's railway grid.

He was survived by son Barbu Știrbey, who went on to become Prime Minister of Romania and also continued his work in agriculture; and by daughter Eliza, who married another Prime Minister, Ion I. C. Brătianu. Știrbei was the posthumous grandfather of politician George Cretzianu, of female aviator Marina Știrbei and, allegedly, of Ileana of Romania. The large estate built by Știrbei, and expanded by his children, was dismantled during the communist regime, which also persecuted his descendants. It has been restored since, and continues to be lucrative into the 21st century.