People of Russia

Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Bogdanovich (1761 – 14/05/1814), Barclay de Tolly – princes and noblemen. That's the name of Scottish origin.

The ancestor of them, a Scotsman of the name Barclay of Tolly, left their country during the troubles in Britain in the seventeenth century and settled in Riga. One of his descendants was the Mayor of Riga, and had a son, a former military service, and bought the noble rank of (officer's rank was acquired while the nobility).

The latter left a son, Eric John, who served inzhenergeneralom, Henry Major – Artillery and Prince Michael Andreas – later famous general, famous for in 1812 and 1813.

Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Bogdanovich was born in 1761, the seventh year of the genus recorded a corporal in the Novotroitskiy cuirassiers regiment, April 28, 1778 produced in Corvettes. Outstanding abilities of the young officer had spotted the head Livonia Division, General Patkul, who took him to his aides, and then recommended gr. Anhalt, who translated it in 1786, in Finnish chasseur corps.

In 1788, Barclay de Tolly, appointed aide to the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburgskomu, took part in the assault Ochakov, and in 1789 – the defeat of the Turks under Causeni, Ackermann during the capture and Bender.

In 1790, Barclay de Tolly, together with the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburgskim, went to Finland, where at that time were fighting, but at the end of the Swedish war moved to St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment.

Here, commanding the battalion, he participated in hostilities against the Poles in 1794 and for the meritorious, rendered in storming fortifications, the Vilna and extermination squad Grabovsky, near Grodno, was awarded the Order of St.. George 4-th century.

Produced by then Lieutenant Colonel, with the translation in Estland chasseur corps, he was appointed commander of the 1 st Battalion, renamed in the reign of Emperor Paul in the 4 th Chasseurs Regiment in 1798, already in the rank of colonel, was appointed chief of the regiment, for the excellent condition of which in 1799, promoted to Major-General.

In a campaign in 1806, Barclay de Tolly particularly distinguished himself in the battle of Pultusk for which he was awarded the Order of St.. George 3 tbsp. January 24, 1807, Barclay de Tolly commanded the rearguard during the retreat of the Russian army to Landsberg and Eylau, was an opportunity to Bennigsen focus on positions in the city, soaking in Gough head almost the whole of Napoleon's army.

In the battle of Eylau, Barclay de Tolly was wounded in his right arm with a broken bone, and was forced to retire from the army, receiving, among other awards, the rank of lieutenant-general.

In the Swedish campaign in 1808, Barclay de Tolly commanded the first detachment of the individual, but in disagreement with the general Buksgevdenom, left Finland. But in 1809 he was again sent there, made his famous crossing of the quarks (7, 8 and 9 March) and took over the Swedish coast city of Umea.

The consequence was the conclusion of peace with Sweden. Promoted to general of infantry, Barclay de Tolly was appointed Governor-General of Finland and the chief of the Finnish army.

January 20, 1810, Barclay de Tolly took over as minister of war, and when it is made known "to manage a large facility serving the army, in addition, made significant improvements in various branches of the military administrations in what proved to be particularly timely and useful mean impending giant struggle with Napoleon.

In the beginning of the war of 1812, Barclay de Tolly was appointed commander of the south-western army. Imagining the circumstances, he retreated to a disproportionately superior forces of the enemy, without giving the latter the possibility of nowhere to achieve a decisive success, joining the army at Smolensk Bagration, he went back to Tsareva-floodplain where he would give battle.

The retreat is, however, aroused dissatisfaction among the troops, who were thirsting to fight to the enemy, and restored against Barclay de Tolly public opinion, as a result he was replaced by Kutuzov, and acted under his command.

In the battle of Borodino he commanded the right flank. The skilful disposition and selfless courage he displayed in this battle, was taken to Barclay de Tolly Order of St.. George 2 nd century.

The famous military council in the village of Fili, he proved the disadvantages of the position to Moscow and offered to withdraw without a fight.After the battle of Borodino, Barclay de Tolly was ill, and in Tarutino camp, his illness was so powerful that he was supposed to leave the army.

4 th February 1813 he took command of three armies in the time of the battle of Bautzen (May 8 and 9), commanded the right wing, which was the main attack directed by Napoleon; after Bautzen battle took command of the Prussian-Russian armieyu; August 18 Kulm completed the defeat Vandomma, for which was awarded the Order of St. George the 1 st century.; The Leipzig battle 4, 5 and 6 October in command center and was one of the main causes of victory.

For these new services, Barclay de Tolly was elevated to the count's dignity. In 1814 he commanded the Russian troops in battle: at Brienne, Arsissyur-two, Fer-Champenoise, in the capture of Paris, which gave him a field-marshal's baton.

Upon his return to Russia, Barclay de Tolly was appointed commander of 1 st Army, with which, in 1815, joined the limits of France but the battle of Waterloo stop further movement of Russian troops.

August 30. In 1814 after the famous see under Wert, Barclay de Tolly was elevated to the princely dignity.

After his return to Russia, the headquarters of his army located in Mogilev on the Dniester, but the troubled health chief forced him to go to Germany's mineral water, in the way that he died in Insterburg May 14, 1818, Barclay de Tolly was buried on the estate Bekgofe in Livonia. He raised a monument to the Kazan Square in St. Petersburg.