Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay-de-Tolly (born December 16 (27), 1761 (or 1757) - death May 14 (26), 1818) - prince, Russian field marshal general, commanded a division and corps during the war with France and Sweden. 1810-1812 - Minister of War. In the Patriotic War of 1812, he was the commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, and in July - August, in fact, all the active Russian troops. 1813-1814 - Commander-in-chief of the Russian-Prussian army, 1815 - the 1st army. One of the founders of Russian military intelligence.
Origin. early years
The Barclay family comes from Scotland. The ancestor of Field Marshal Peter Barkley, fled his homeland in the middle of the 17th century. He settled in Riga. The grandfather of the Russian commander, Wilhelm Barclay de Tolly, was the mayor of Riga. The commander's father, Weingold Gotthard Barclay de Tolly, served in the Russian army and retired with the rank of lieutenant and received a title of nobility. Mother - Margarita Elizabeth von Smitten was the daughter of a local priest.
To this day, there are disputes and discussions of historians about the date and place of birth of the field marshal.
Mikhail Bogdanovich (at birth - Michael-Andreas) was born in the Pamushis estate, which at that time was on the territory of the Duchy of Courland, which belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which since 1795 became part of Russia. According to other sources, he was born in Riga, or the Lude Grosshoff estate near Valk.
1765 - Weingold Gotthard took his son to be raised in St. Petersburg to a relative of his wife. There he was educated at home, taught Russian, German and French, arithmetic, military history.
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Military service
He began active military service in 1776, 1787-1791. - took part in the Russian-Turkish war and 1788-1790. - in the Russian-Swedish war. Distinguished himself in the war with France in 1806-1807. at Preussisch-Eylau, since 1807 division commander.
1808-1809 - during the Russian-Swedish war, corps commander; 1809, March 20 (April 1) - Barclay de Tolly promoted to general from infantry.
1809-1810 - Governor General of Finland. From January 1810 to September 1812, Minister of War, he did a lot of work to strengthen the Russian army. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the commander of the 1st Western Army, he, as the Minister of War, was subordinate to the 2nd Western Army. In conditions of significant enemy superiority, he showed the talent of a commander and was successfully able to carry out the withdrawal and combination of the two armies. But the retreat caused disapproval in noble circles and the army, and on August 17, Mikhail Bogdanovich surrendered command of the armies to M. I. Kutuzov.
During the Battle of Borodino, he commanded the right wing of the Russian army, showing stamina and skill in defense. Recognized L. L. Bennigsen's position near Moscow was unsuccessful and at the military council in Fili expressed his support for M. I. Kutuzov to leave the capital. 1812, September - left the army due to illness. 1813, February - appointed commander of the 3rd, and then the Russian-Prussian army, which he successfully commanded during the overseas campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814. (Kulm, Leipzig, Paris). 1814 - battles at Brienne, Arsi-on-Aub, Fer-Champenoise and Paris delivered a field marshal's baton to Mikhail Bogdanovich.
1815 - Field Marshal, being the commander-in-chief of the 1st Army, again entered France, where, after a review in Vertu, he was elevated to princely dignity. Returning to Russia, the commander continued to command the 1st Army.
Personal life
His wife, Helena Augusta Eleanor von Smitten (1770-1828), was his cousin. 1791, September 2 (August 22) they got married. In this marriage, they had five children, but only one son survived - Ernst Magnus August.
Death
1818, the beginning - Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay-de-Tolly went to Germany for treatment on mineral waters, however, not reaching the place, he died on May 14 (26) at the age of 56 on the Shtilitzen manor, 6 versts from the city Insterburg (now Chernyakhovsk).
On May 30, his body was taken to Riga, where a solemn mourning ceremony took place. King of Prussia Frederick Wilhelm III sent an honor guard to Gilyaitschen, accompanying the funeral cortege to the Russian border.
According to legend, the heart of the great commander was buried on a small hill 300 meters from the Stilitzen manor, and the embalmed ashes were delivered to the Beckhoff family estate in Livonia, and buried in the family tomb next to the ashes of a previously deceased son.
Together with Kutuzov, a monument was erected to him near the Kazan Cathedral.
Interesting Facts
• Mikhail Bogdanovich was one of 4 military leaders awarded all 4 degrees of the Order of St. George (except for Barclay de Tolly, MI Kutuzov, II Dibich, IF Paskevich became full cavaliers).
• The highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Field Marshal received for the victory at Konigswart in Saxony.
• Barclay-de-Tolly's relations with M. I. Kutuzov during the Patriotic War of 1812. Kutuzov practically adopted the tactics invented by Barclay, but, despite this, the military leaders from all sides tried to limit Barclay's powers.
Mikhail Bogdanovich would later write: “I commit all and every my deeds to strict judgment. Let them point out other ways that could be used to save the Fatherland"