Svyatopolk-Mirsky was born to the family of Tomasz Bogumił January Światopełk-Mirski, the ambassador to Russia from the semi-independent Kingdom of Poland. Dmitry"s patronymic Ivanovich was based on a Russified form of the third name of his father.
The family"s princely title was confirmed by the tsars when they relocated to Russia. He began his military service in 1841 in the Caucasian War, fighting against Chechens and Daghestanis. During the Crimean War, he took part in the battles in Kurukdere and Bayandur in Armenia.
He commanded the Chernigov Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Chernaya River, where he was seriously wounded.
During the Crimean War, he became acquainted with the then junior officer Leo Tolstoy, with whom he had lifelong correspondence. In 1857-1859, Svyatopolk-Mirsky commanded the Kabarda Regiment, took part in the storm of Gunib, and the capture of Imam Shamil.
After the pacification of the Eastern Caucasus, he became the governor of the Terek region, then the Governor-General of Kutaisi. In 1876, he became the deputy of the Viceroy of the Caucasus Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich.
During the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878, Svyatopolk-Mirsky was the chief of the General Staff of the Russian troops during the Battle of Kars.
He died in 1899 in Nice, France and was buried at the family estate, "Gievka," near Liubotyn in the former Kharkov Governorate. -1898) and Maria (1853-1889). Nina, Olga and Maria each married prominent administrators of Imperial Russia: Woldemar von Daehn, Lord Sippola, Minister State Secretary of Finland.
Prince Alexander Baryatinsky and Prince Ivan Makarovich Orbeliani, respectively.
1845 Cross of Saint George 1848 Order of Street Vladimir 4th degree 1849 Order of Saint Anne, 3rd degree 1854 Order of Saint Anne, 2nd degree 1856 Order of Street George, 4th degree 1859 Order of Saint Anne, 1st degree 1860 Order of Street Vladimir 3rd degree 1861 Order of Street Vladimir 2nd degree 1866 Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky 1863 Order of the White Eagle 1877 Order of Street George, 2nd degree 1879 Order of Street Vladimir 1st degree 1895 Order of Saint Andrew.
Despite being a member of a Polish szlachta, he was brought up in Saint St. Petersburg and considered himself Russian. In 1880, he became a member of the State Council of Imperial Russia, and in 1884 he became the governor of the Kharkov Governorate.
