Photograph of Alexander II, Emperor of Russia. He is sitting in a chair with his hands clasped together and his head turned slightly to the left. He is wearing military uniform with epaulettes and insignia and has a sword by his side. There is a table to the left. Alexander II was Emperor of Russia from 1855 until his assassination in 1881. The Emancipation of the Serfs and the sale of Alaska to the United States were among the notable events of his reign.