Count Vorontsov Mikhail Semenovich - a well-known statesman, adjutant general, field marshal general, His Serene Highness Prince (since 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 A. N.) got married in 1781. In May 1782 they had a son, Mikhail, and a year later, a daughter, Catherine. But the family happiness of the Vorontsovs did not last long. Ekaterina Alekseevna died in August 1784 after an illness. Semyon Romanovich never married again and transferred all his unspent love to his daughter and son.
In May 1785 Vorontsov S. R. moved to London for work. He held the position of minister plenipotentiary, that is, he was the ambassador to England from Russia. So the UK has become a second home for little Mikhail.
Study
Semyon Romanovich carefully monitored the education and upbringing of his son. He tried to prepare him as effectively as possible to serve his homeland. The boy's father was convinced that the most important thing was 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 Mikhail, although he was fluent in this language (as well as Latin, Greek and English), still preferred Russian.
The boy's schedule included music, architecture, fortification, natural sciences, mathematics. He learned to ride a horse and had a good command of various types of weapons. To expand the horizons of the boy, Semyon Romanovich took him with him to secular meetings and parliamentary meetings. Also, the younger and older Vorontsovs inspected industrial enterprises and visited Russian ships that entered English harbors.
Semyon Romanovich was sure that serfdom would soon fall, and the landowners' lands would go to the peasants. And so that his son could feed himself and participate in the creation of the future political course of Russia, he taught him well the craft.
In 1798, Count Vorontsov Jr. received the title of chamberlain. It was assigned to him by Paul I. It must be said that by his coming of age, Mikhail was fully prepared to serve for the good of his homeland. He was excellently brought up and educated. He also developed certain views on which path Russia should take. Serving the fatherland became a sacred duty for him. But, knowing the difficult nature of Paul I, SemyonRomanovich was in no hurry to send his son home.
Career start
In March 1801, Alexander I became emperor, and already in May, Vorontsov Jr. arrived in St. Petersburg. Here he met members of the literary circle, became close to the soldiers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment and decided to make a military career. At that time, the rank of chamberlain available to Mikhail was equated with the rank of major general, but Vorontsov did not use this privilege. He was enrolled in the Preobrazhensky Regiment as an ordinary lieutenant.
However, the count was quickly fed up with court duties, drills and parades. In 1803, he went to Transcaucasia as a volunteer to get into the army of Prince Tsitsianov. Here, the young Count Vorontsov quickly became the right hand of the commander. But he did not sit out at the headquarters, but actively participated in the battles. Therefore, it is not surprising that captain's epaulettes appeared on his shoulders, and three orders on his chest: St. George (4th degree), St. Vladimir and St. Anna (3rd degree).
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 with the Turks. Mikhail, as before, stood in the forefront of the attackers and rushed into the thick of the battles. He was again promoted and awarded orders.
Patriotic War of 1812
Mikhail met the Patriotic War of 1812, being the commander of a consolidated grenadier division. She actively participated in the defense of the Semyonov flushes. The first blow of the Frenchjust fell on the division of Vorontsov. She was attacked immediately by 5-6 enemy units. And after the attack, the fire of two hundred French guns fell upon her. The grenadiers suffered huge losses, but did not retreat. Mikhail himself led one of his battalions in a bayonet attack and was wounded.
Several hundred carts arrived at the Moscow palace of Count Vorontsov to take out family property and we alth accumulated over the centuries. Nevertheless, Mikhail Semyonovich gave the order to take on carts not property, but 450 soldiers.
Victory
After recovering, Vorontsov immediately went with the Russian army on a foreign campaign. Near Craon, his division successfully resisted the French, led by Napoleon himself. For this battle, Mikhail Semyonovich 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 led by Vorontsov, and he established his own rules. The count drew up a set of rules that his soldiers and officers had to follow. The main idea of the new statute was the refusal of seniors to belittle the human dignity of lower ranks. Mikhail Semyonovich was also the first in history to abolish corporal punishment.
Personal life of Count Vorontsov
In April 1819, Mikhail Semyonovich married Branitskaya E. K. The celebration took place in the Paris Orthodox Cathedral. Maria Feodorovna (Empress) spoke positively about the Countess. She believed that intelligence, beauty and an outstanding character are perfectly combined in Elizabeth Ksaveryevna.“36 years of marriage made me very happy” - this is exactly what Count Vorontsov made at the end of his life. The military leader's family consisted of a wife and six children. Unfortunately, four of them passed away at an early age.
Governor-General
In St. Petersburg, Vorontsov's army innovations were not well received. They believed that the count was undermining discipline with a new code, so upon arrival at home, the corps of Mikhail Semyonovich was disbanded. The count immediately resigned. But Alexander I did not accept it and appointed him commander of the 3rd Corps. Vorontsov delayed taking the corps to the last.
His uncertain position ended in May 1823, when the count was appointed governor-general of the Novorossiysk Territory and governor of Bessarabia. Several officers who had previously served with him left the service in order to get into Vorontsov's team. In a short time, Mikhail Semyonovich gathered around him many businesslike, energetic and talented assistants.
Development of Bessarabia and Novorossiya
Vorontsov participated in all spheres of life, territories entrusted to him. He ordered tree seedlings and vines of rare grape varieties 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-fleeced sheep from the West and opened a stud farm.
When the steppe south needed fuel for cooking and heating homes, Mikhail Semyonovich organized the search, and then the extraction of coal. Vorontsov built a steamship on his estate, and a few years later he openedseveral shipyards in southern ports. The production of new vessels has made it possible to establish a good connection between the ports of the Azov and Black Seas.
The governor-general devoted enough time to cultural and educational issues. Several newspapers were founded, on the pages of which photographs of Count Vorontsov and the results of his activities were periodically printed. The multi-page "Odessa Almanacs" and "Novorossiysk Calendar" began to be published. Educational institutions opened on a regular basis, the first public library appeared, etc.
In the Caucasus
Thanks to the competent management of Vorontsov, Bessarabia and Novorossiya 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 significant experience in civil affairs should be sent to the Caucasus. Mikhail Semyonovich was the ideal candidate. But the count was 63 years old, and he was often sick. Therefore, Vorontsov reacted uncertainly to the emperor's request, fearing not to justify his hopes. Nevertheless, he agreed and became the commander-in-chief in the Caucasus.
The plan for the trip to the fortified village of Dargo was developed in advance in St. Petersburg. The count had to strictly follow him. As a result, the residence of Shamil was taken, but the Imam himself eluded the Russian troops, hiding in the mountains. The Caucasian Corps suffered huge losses. After that there were new battles. The hottest battles were fought during the conquest of the fortresses of Gergebil and S alty.
It should be noted that Vorontsov came to the Caucasus not as a conqueror, but rather as a peacemaker. As a commander, he was forced to destroy and fight, and as a governor, he used every opportunity to negotiate. In his opinion, it would be more profitable for Russia not to fight with the Caucasus, but to appoint Shamil as the prince of Dagestan and pay him a salary.
Field Marshal's Baton
At the end of 1851, Count Mikhail Vorontsov received a rescript from Nicholas I, which listed all his merits for half a century of military service. Everyone expected that he would be awarded the rank of Field Marshal. But the emperor limited himself to the title of "most illustrious." This discrepancy was explained by the fact that the count, with his unchanging liberalism, aroused suspicion in Nicholas I.
Deterioration of he alth
After his 70th birthday, Mikhail Semyonovich's he alth began to decline. He simply did not have the strength to carry out his own duties. He was ill for a long time. Early in 1854 he requested a six-month leave to improve his he alth. The treatment that took place abroad did not give results. So at the end of the year, Count Vorontsov asked the emperor to remove him from all posts in Bessarabia, New Russia and the Caucasus. Mikhail Semyonovich's request was granted.
Recent years
In August 1856, the coronation of Alexander II took place in the capital. Count Vorontsov, whose biography is presented in this article, could not come to her, as he was tormented by a fever. Mikhail Semyonovich was visited by the Grand Dukes at home and solemnly presented him with the Imperialrescript. Thus, the count was awarded the highest military rank and a field marshal's baton adorned with diamonds.
Vorontsov lived in his new rank for a little over two months. His wife transported him to Odessa, where Field Marshal General died in early November. Crowds of city residents of all ages, religions and classes came out to see off their governor-general on his last journey. Under gun and cannon volleys, the body of Prince Vorontsov was lowered into the grave. To this day it is located in the Odessa Cathedral (middle part, right corner).
Conclusion
Count MS Vorontsov was the only statesman to whom two monuments were erected with 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 count is inscribed on a marble plaque located in the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin. And he deserves all this. After all, Mikhail Semyonovich was a hero of the war of 1812, one of the most educated people of his time, a military and statesman, as well as a man of dignity and honor.
