Committee for Finnish Affairs

The Committee for Finnish Affairs (Suomen asiain komitea; Kommittén för finska ärenden) was a committee in the Grand Duchy of Finland that assisted the Minister-Secretary of State for Finland with various issues regarding Finland for the years from 1811 to 1826 and then from 1857 to 1891.

The Committee for Finnish Affairs was founded in 1811 by the approval of the Emperor of Russia Alexander I. The idea for creating the committee came from State Secretary, Count Mikhail Speransky. The committee was based in Imperial Russia's capital Saint Petersburg. The committee supported the work of State Secretary of Finland, and then Minister-Secretary of Finland.

The Grand Duchy of Finland was formed in 1809. The committee had a crucial role in strengthening Finland's autonomy in Imperial Russia. Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland Alexander I supported the committee's work.

The founding chairman was General, Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt. Members of the committee were Count Johan Fredrik Aminoff, Baron Carl Johan Walleen, and Active State Councillor Jacob Wilhelm Hisinger.

Count Armfelt fought in the Napoleonic Wars, and he was adjutant to Emperor Alexander I. Count Aminoff acted as Chairman when Armfelt was away from Saint Petersburg. Armfelt passed away in 1814. Count Aminoff acted again as chairman for a short period.

The committee was highly influential during Armfelt's time. After 1814 the committee was less influential. In 1825, Emperor Nicholas I rose to power. Nicholas I decided to dismantle the committee.

The committee was re-formed again when Alexander II was Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland. The committee was dismantled again in 1891 by Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland Alexander III.