He was born a grandson of Emperor Nicholas I and the first male of                 
his generation. He was handsome, intelligent, witty and enjoyed                        
writing verse. He was the favourite of his parents and in 1855, when                   
his father became Emperor Alexander II, he became heir to the throne.                  
He was carefully prepared for his future role and was close to his                  
father and his father's reforms. In 1859 he was declared of age and a                  
search for a bride began. The future King Christian IX of Denmark was                  
approached but he and his wife declared that their daughter, Dagmar,                   
had to make the decision. Subsequently Emperor Alexander II sent                       
Nicholas to Copenhagen where he made a favourable impression on                        
Dagmar. They fell in love, but Nicholas had to return to St.                           
Petersburg where he fell ill with some form of paralysis. When the                     
doctors suggested a warmer climate, he was taken to the French                         
Riviera.                                                                               
Soon he was diagnosed as having tuberculosis of the spine; but                     
perhaps it was spinal meningitis, which progressed and went to the                     
brain. Seriously alarmed, Dagmar, accompanied by her mother, went to                   
Nice and so did Emperor Alexander II with his younger sons.                            
Dagmar remained at his bedside and, on his last day, Nicholas sent                 
for his brother Alexander and said it was his greatest regret that he                  
could not give Dagmar the happiness she deserved and begged Alexander                  
to take his place. On 24 April 1865 he died.                                           
 

Source: Leo van de Pas