He came from the
Russian nobility of the
St. Petersburg Governorate, a native of the city of
Saint Petersburg, born on 29 January 1772. After completing his studies at the
First Cadet Corps, which he graduated from on 19 June 1790, he was accepted into service with the rank of
lieutenant in the Pskov Musketeer Regiment. In the same year, during
military operations against the Swedes in
Prince Charles Nassau-Siegen's Rowing Fleet
[ru] and in the
army corps of
ru:General Fyodor Numsen (until 1794), he proved himself to be a brave and decisive commander. In 1794, he wished to take part in the
war with Poland and was awarded the
Order of St. George, 4th degree, for his services. On 30 June 1799, for some omission in his Kexholm Musketeer Regiment during a parade, he was, by order of
Paul I of Russia, expelled from service; but already on 16 November of the following year he was again accepted into the same regiment. On 19 November 1800, he was promoted to
colonel, and in 1803 he was appointed commander of the Kexholm regiment. In the following years,
in 1805 and 1807, he fought against French troops, demonstrating his military talents and leadership qualities, namely at the battles of
Heilsberg and
Friedland. In 1806, he became the chief of the Pernau Musketeer Regiment. He particularly distinguished himself during the
war with Sweden in 1808–09 namely at the
Siege of Sveaborg and the
Battle of Lemo which led to his promotion to
major general on 6 July 1808. In 1812, he commanded a
brigade of the
11th Infantry Division and took part in the important battles of
Ostrovno and
Smolensk. During the
Battle of Borodino, he defended the tactically important Raevsky redoubt and soon after took command of the entire 11th Infantry Division (after the death of
ru:General Nikolai Bakhmetev). His outstanding actions were noted during the
capture of Vyazma, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd degree. From 1813 to 1814, he commanded the
1st Grenadier Division, actively participating in the blockade of Glogau and the battles of
Lützen,
Bautzen,
Reichenbach, Leipzig, and
Arcis-sur-Aube. His military career
ended in Paris. On 5 October 1818, he was discharged from military service due to health reasons, while keeping his uniform. His life's journey ended on 15 April 1832 in his homeland, and he was buried near the church in the village of Koltushi,
Shlisselburgsky Uyezd, St. Petersburg Governorate. ==Memory==