Lavr Kornilov
(18 August 1870 ---> 13 April 1918)
| Lavr was born in Ust-Kamenogorsk (in modern day Kazakhstan) in 1870. He studied at Mikhailovsky Artillery School in St. Petersburg from 1889. In August 1892, he was assigned as a lieutenant to the Turkestan Military District, leading missions in Afghanistan and Persia. He returned to St Petersburg and attended the General Staff Academy, graduating as a captain in 1897. In the Russo-Japanese War, Kornilov was Chief of Staff of the Infantry Brigade, involved heavily at Sandepu and Mukden. He was promoted to the rank of colonel for his performance. Following the Russo-Japanese War, Kornilov served in China as a military attache from 1907 to 1911. He studied the Chinese language and culture, travelling extensively. He wrote about life in contemporary China and Chinese culture. In 1910, he briefly returned to Russia, staying in St. Petersburg, before examining the Mongolian-Chinese border. On 2nd February 1911, Kornilov became Commander of the 48th Infantry Division seeing active service in Galicia. In 1915, he became a major general. He was captured by Austrians in April 1915. He escaped in July 1916 and returned to Russia. After the overthrow of Czar Nicholas II, he was given command of the Petrograd Military Division in March 1917. He became a leading figure in the White Army. In June 1917, he became Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Provisional Armed Forces. Kornilov was dismissed as Supreme Commander-in-Chief because he was 'attempting to set up a dictatorship'. Kornilov was arrested and escaped in November. He went to the Don Region and became a commander within the Anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army. Kornilov commanded the Ice March. On 13th April 1918, a Bolshevik shell landed on his farmhouse in Ekaterinodar and killed him, aged 47. |
