Prominent Russian military commander. Born to a Russian noble family on 24 August 1753, Rimsky-Korsakov enlisted as a corporal in the Life Guard Preobrazhensk Regiment in 1768, rising to sub-ensign in 1769, to sergeant in 1770, to ensign in 1774, and to lieutenant in 1775. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1778, he transferred to the Chernigov Infantry Regiment and served in Poland from 1778 to 1779.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1787- 1792, he was assigned to the Austrian Korps, fighting at Khotin and Gangur in 1788. The following year, he commanded a detachment at Byrlad, Maximeni, on the Siret River and at Galati. He had the honor of delivering the news of the Russian victories to Catherine II, who promoted him to brigadier. Rimsky-Korsakov transferred to the Life Guard Semeyonovsk Regiment on 25 July 1789 and served during the Russo-Swedish War on the galley flotilla against the Swedes at Friedrichsham, Neischlodt, and Julaksioki.

He became a major general in 1793 and briefly visited Britain in 1794. He joined the Austrian army in the Austrian Netherlands and took part in various actions against the French in late 1794. He returned to Russia in 1795 and the following year participated in the Persian expedition along the Caspian Sea, distinguishing himself at Derbent and Gandja.

Under Tsar Paul, Rimsky-Korsakov became the infantry inspector for the St. Petersburg Inspection and received promotion to lieutenant general on 15 January 1798. He became chef (colonel-proprietor) of the Rostov Musketeer Regiment on 28 September 1798.

In 1799 Rimsky-Korsakov commanded a corps against the French in Switzerland and was decisively defeated at the second battle of Zürich in September. He was removed from command and discharged from the army that November.

He returned to service in March 1801, receiving the rank of general of infantry that month with seniority dating from December.

In 1802 he became governor of Byelorussia and, one year later, was appointed the infantry inspector in Moscow. In 1805-1806 he commanded the Russian reserves in the western provinces. He became military governor of Lithuania on 1 October 1806 and organized local militias during the campaigns in Poland in 1806-1807.

He took a discharge on 15 July 1809 following a disagreement with General Aleksey Arakcheyev.

In 1812 he was again appointed military governor of Lithuania, serving in this position for the next eighteen years.

He became a member of the State Council in 1830 and died in St. Petersburg on 25 May 1840.

Alexander Mikaberidze

References and further reading

The Encyclopedia of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars