Nicholas Nikolaievich Annenkov was an influential Russian General of the Infantry, Governor-General of Kiev and Bessarabia, and member of the State Privy Council.
Background
Nicholas Nikolaievich Annenkov was born on December 6, 1799 in Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhegorod, Russian Federation. He was born into great wealth as a member of the nobility of Nizhny Novgorod, Nicholas Annenkov was the son of Colonel Nicholas Nikanorovich Annenkov (1764-1839).
Education
After briefly attending Moscow University, Nicholas Nikolaievich joined the Army to fight against Napoleon, thereby beginning a military career that would last the rest of his life. By his mid-20s he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia and promoted to Colonel of the Infantry. During the Turkish Campaign of 1828, Nicholas Nikolaievich distinguished himself and was awarded the Order of St. Anna.
Career
During the 1831 November Uprising in Poland, Nicholas Nikolaievich served as Chief of Staff to General Baron Fabian Gottlieb von Osten-Sacken. During one attack, he routed an entire enemy division and captured 1,200 combatants. He was awarded the Order of St. George (4th Class) and appointed to Tsar Nicholas I’s personal suite. Owing to his military successes, in 1844 he was promoted to Adjutant General of the Infantry. On November 3, 1848, he was made a member of the State Council.
In 1854 General Nicholas Nikolaievich was appointed Interim Governor-General of New Russia and Bessarabia, a posting that coincided with the Crimean War. His actions during the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855) and the bombardment of Odessa resulted in further decorations: the silver medal and the light-bronze medal.
Nicholas Nikolaievich was a co-founder, in 1856, of the Moscow-Saratov Railway with General Semyon Alexeievich Yurievich, Paul von Derwies, and the Privy Councilors M.N. Zhemchuzhnikov and Konstantin I. Arsenyev. The initial line of this railway was opened from Moscow to Kolomna on 20 July (1 August) 1862. It was reorganized as the Moscow-Ryazan Railway in 1863, and an extension to Ryazan was opened on 27 August (8 September) 1864.
From 1856 to 1862 Annenkov served as State Comptroller of the Imperial Court. In 1861 Tsar Alexander II of Russia promoted him to Full General, Order of St. Vladimir. His final posting, from 1862 to 1865, was as Governor-General of Kiev and the western provinces; however, illness cut short his service, and he retired to Nice, France, for recuperation. As a final duty to the state, General Nicholas Nikolaievich accompanied the body of Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsarevich of Russia, back to Russia. Even though Nicholas Nikolaievich rejoined the State Council upon returning, he died shortly thereafter.
Membership
Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Science, and the Arts
,
Russian Federation
1819
Connections
Nicholas Nikolaievich was married to Vera Ivanovna Bucharina and they had two sons (Machail and Alexander) and four daughters (Maria, Alexandra, Elizabeth and Elena). Until their marriages, General Annenkov's daughters served as ladies-in-waiting to Empress Maria Alexandrovna.