Count Vorontsov Mikhail Semenovich: biography, photo, family

Count Vorontsov Mikhail Semenovich - well-known statesman, adjutant-general, general-field marshal, prince (from 1845); Bessarabian and Novorossiysk governor-general; Member of the St. Petersburg Scientific Academy. He contributed to the construction of Odessa and developed the region economically. In this article you will be presented with his brief biography.

Parents

The parents of the future Field Marshal - Semyon Romanovich and Ekaterina Alekseevna (daughter of Admiral Senyavin AN) were married in 1781. In May 1782 they had a son, Mikhail, and a year later daughter Catherine. But the family happiness of the Vorontsovs did not last long. Ekaterina Alekseevna died in August 1784 after the illness. Semyon Romanovich never married again and transferred all his unspent love to his daughter and son.

In May 1785, Vorontsov SR moved to London for work. He was the plenipotentiary minister, that is, he was the ambassador in England from Russia. So Great Britain became the second home for little Mikhail.

Learning

Semyon Romanovich carefully followed the training and education of his son. He tried to prepare him as efficiently as possible to serve his country. The boy's father was convinced that the most important thing is a good command of his native language and knowledge of Russian history and literature. The future Count Vorontsov was very different from his peers. They preferred to speak French, and Michael, although he was good at this language (as well as Latin, Greek and English), preferred Russian all the same.

The schedule of the boy's classes was music, architecture, fortification, science, mathematics. He learned to ride a horse and had a good command of various weapons. To expand the horizon of the boy Semyon Romanovich took him with him to secular meetings and parliament sessions. Also, the younger and senior Vorontsovs examined industrial enterprises and visited Russian ships that visited the English harbor.

Semyon Romanovich was sure that serfdom would soon fall, and the landed estates would be left to the peasants. And that his son could feed himself and participate in the creation of the future political course of Russia, he well taught his craft.

In 1798 Count Vorontsov, Jr. received the title of Chamberlain. It was appropriated to him by Paul I. I must say that by his age, Mikhail was fully prepared for service for the benefit of his homeland. He was superbly educated and educated. He also had certain views on the path Russia should follow. Service to the fatherland was a sacred duty for him. But, knowing the heavy character of Paul I, Semyon Romanovich did not hurry to send his son home.

Carier start

In March 1801 Alexander I became the emperor, and in May Vorontsov, the youngest, arrived in Petersburg. Here he met members of the literary circle, became friends with the soldiers of the Preobrazhensky regiment and decided to make a career as a military man. At that time, Michael's rank of chamberlain was equated with the rank of Major-General, but Vorontsov did not take advantage of this privilege. He was enrolled in the Preobrazhensky regiment as an ordinary lieutenant.

However, the Count quickly tired of duty at court, drill and parade-parade. In 1803 he traveled to Transcaucasia as a volunteer to get into the army of Prince Tsitsianov. Here the young Count Vorontsov quickly became the right-hand man of the commander. But he did not sit out at headquarters, but actively participated in the battles. Therefore, it is not surprising that the captain's epaulettes appeared on his shoulders, and on the chest three orders: St. George (4th degree), St. Vladimir and St. Anna (grade 3).

In 1805-1807 Count Vorontsov, whose biography is known to all modern military men, participated in battles with Napoleon, and in 1809-1811 he fought against the Turks. Michael, as before, stood in the front ranks of the attackers and rushed into the thick of the battles. He was promoted again and awarded with orders.

Patriotic War of 1812

The Patriotic War of 1812, Mikhail met, as commander of the joint Grenadier Division. She actively participated in the defense of Semenov flushes. The first blow of the French just fell on the division Vorontsov. She was attacked immediately by 5-6 enemy units. And after the attack on her, the fire of two hundred French guns fell. Grenadiers suffered huge losses, but did not retreat. Mikhail himself led one of his battalions into a bayonet attack and was wounded.

Count Vorontsov's Moscow palace has received several hundred trains for the export of family property and wealth accumulated over the centuries. Nevertheless, Mikhail Semyonovich gave the order to take on the cart not the property, but 450 military.

Victory

After recovery Vorontsov immediately went with the Russian army on a foreign campaign. Under Kraon, his division successfully resisted the French, led by Napoleon himself. For this battle, Mikhail Semenovich was awarded the Order of St. George.

After the final defeat of France, the armies of the victorious countries remained on its territory. The Russian occupation corps was headed by Vorontsov, and he established his own orders. The Earl made a set of rules, which his soldiers and officers were to follow. The main idea of the new statute was the refusal of the senior in rank to diminish the human dignity of the lower ranks. Also, Mikhail Semyonovich was the first in the history to abolish corporal punishment.

The personal life of Count Vorontsov

In April 1819, Mikhail Semenovich married with Branitskaya EK. The celebration was held in the Paris Orthodox Cathedral. Maria Fyodorovna (Empress) spoke positively about the Countess. She believed that in Yelizaveta Xaverevne, mind, beauty and an outstanding character perfectly combined. "36 years of marriage made me very happy" - exactly such a statement made at the end of life Count Vorontsov. The family of the commander consisted of a wife and six children. Unfortunately, four of them died at an early age.

Governor-General

In St. Petersburg, not very well treated with military innovations Vorontsov. They believed that the new arch the graph undermines discipline, so upon arrival at home, Mikhail Semyonovich's corps was dismissed. The Count immediately resigned. But Alexander I did not accept it and appointed him commander of the 3rd corps. Vorontsov delayed with the adoption of the corps until the last.

His uncertain position ended in May 1823, when the Count was appointed governor-general of the Novorossiysk region and governor of Bessarabia. Several officers who served with him earlier left the service to get to Vorontsov's team. For a short time, Mikhail Semenovich gathered around him a lot of efficient, energetic and talented assistants.

Development of Bessarabia and Novorossia

Vorontsov participated in all spheres of life, the territories entrusted to him. He ordered seedlings of trees and vines of rare varieties of grapes from abroad, grew them in his own nurseries and distributed them free of charge to those who wished. With his own money, he brought fine wool sheep from the West and opened a stud farm.

When the steppe south needed fuel for cooking and heating the dwellings, Mikhail Semyonovich organized the search, and then the extraction of coal. In his estate Vorontsov built a steamer, and several years later he opened several shipyards in the southern ports. The production of new vessels made it possible to establish good communication between the ports of the Azov and Black seas.

The governor-general devoted much time to questions of culture and enlightenment. Several newspapers were established, on the pages of which the photo of Count Vorontsov and the results of his activities were periodically printed. Numerous "Odessa almanacs" and "Novorossiyskiy calendar" began to appear. Educational institutions were opened on a regular basis, the first public library appeared, and so on.

In the Caucasus

Thanks to the competent management of Vorontsov, Bessarabia and Novorossia prospered. And in the neighboring Caucasus, the situation worsened every day. The change of commanders did not help. Imam Shamil defeated the Russians in any battle.

Nicholas I understood that a person with good military tactics and substantial experience in civil affairs should be sent to the Caucasus. Mikhail Semenovich was an ideal candidate. But the count was 63 years old, and he often was sick. Therefore, at the request of the emperor Vorontsov reacted uncertainly, fearing not to justify his hopes. Nevertheless, he agreed and became commander-in-chief in the Caucasus.

The plan for a trip to the fortified aul Dargo was developed in advance in St. Petersburg. The count had to follow it clearly. As a result, Shamil's residence was taken, but the Imam himself escaped from the Russian troops, hiding in the mountains. The Caucasian corps suffered huge losses. After that, there were new battles. The most heated battles were fought in the conquest of the fortresses of Gergebil and Salta.

It should be noted that Vorontsov came to the Caucasus not a conqueror, but rather a peacemaker. As commander, he was forced to destroy and fight, and as the governor used every opportunity to conduct negotiations. In his opinion, it would be more advantageous for Russia not to fight the Caucasus, but to appoint Shamil the prince of Dagestan and pay him salaries.

Field Marshal's Wand

At the end of 1851 Count Mikhail Vorontsov received a rescript from Nicholas I, listing all his services for half a century of military service. All expected that he would be awarded the rank of general-field marshal. But the emperor confined himself to the title "light". This discrepancy was due to the fact that the graph with his constant liberalism evoked suspicion in Nicholas I.

Deterioration of health

After the 70th anniversary, Mikhail Semyonovich's health declined. He simply did not have the strength to fulfill his duties. He was ill for a long time. In early 1854, he asked for a six-month vacation to improve his health. Treatment abroad did not work. So at the end of the year Count Vorontsov asked the emperor to remove him from all posts in Bessarabia, Novorossia and the Caucasus. Mikhail Semyonovich's request was granted.

Last years

In August 1856 in the capital, the coronation of Alexander II took place. Earl of Vorontsov, whose biography is presented in this article, could not come on it, as he was tormented by a fever. Mikhail Semyonovich visited the houses of the Grand Dukes and solemnly handed him the imperial rescript. Thus, the earl was awarded the highest military rank and handed the field marshal's staff, decorated with diamonds.

In the new rank Vorontsov lived a little more than two months. His wife took him to Odessa, where the general-field-marshal died in early November. Crowds of city residents of all ages, faiths and estates went out to hold their governor-general on their last journey. Under the guns and cannon volleys, Prince Vorontsov's body was lowered into the grave. He is still in Odessa Cathedral (middle section, right corner).

Conclusion

Count MS Vorontsov was the only statesman to whom two monuments were erected for the funds collected by subscription: in Tiflis and Odessa. Two of his portraits hang in the Winter Palace (Military Gallery). Also the name of the graph is inscribed on a marble board located in the St. George's Hall of the Kremlin. And he is worthy of all this. After all, Mikhail Semenovich was the hero of the war of 1812, one of the most educated people of his time, a military and statesman, and also a man of dignity and honor.