Nikanor Svechin

Nikanor Mikhailovich Svechin (1772–1849) was a Russian general, a participant in the Napoleonic Wars.

Biography A nobleman of the Tver Province, was born on July 3, 1772, in the family estate, the village of Dubrovka, Novotorzhsky District, and received his upbringing and education first at home, and then at the Tver Noble School.

He entered military service on January 22, 1791, as an ensign in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment; on December 14, 1798, he was promoted to ensign.

In the fall of 1805, already in the rank of lieutenant, he took part in the ranks of the regiment on a campaign in Moravia and an accident deprived him of the opportunity to take part in the Battle of Austerlitz. On the eve of the entry of the guard into Olmutz (November 10), at night, riding on a bridge across the river, due to the lack of a railing, he stumbled, fell with his horse on the ice, breaking it, and was pulled out unconscious by the Cossacks. The consequence of this fall was a severe dislocation of his right arm, which forced him to a long treatment in the regimental infirmary.

Subsequent peaceful service of Svechin was associated with his business trip in 1806 to Vilna to train the recruits of the reserve army and with the stay (from 1807 to 1810) as part of the 2nd Battalion of the regiment in Finland, near the city of Wasa.

Promoted to colonel in 1810, soon after that he was appointed commander of the 2nd Battalion of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, and at the beginning of 1812, he set out with the regiment on a campaign to Sventsiany, where the guard became part of the 5th Infantry Corps of the 1st Western Army. In the battle at Borodino, the Preobrazhensky Regiment did not have to take direct part, since it was in reserve. For the courage shown in this battle, Svechin was awarded the Order of Saint Anna, 2nd Degree.

The Campaign of 1813 brought him fame not only among his fellow soldiers, but also among the entire guard. On April 20 and May 8 and 9, he took part in the battles of Lützen and Bautzen, and for Lützen he was awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir, 3rd Degree.

Family Wife (married January 21, 1817) – Ekaterina Engelhardt (May 17, 1798 – December 17, 1818), the legalized daughter of Vasily Engelhardt, the grand-niece of Prince Potemkin. They got married in Saint Petersburg in the Simeon Church. They had son Nikanor (December 9, 1818 – ?; godson of Princess Tatyana Yusupova) and daughter Maria, was married to Prince Nikolai Obolensky. Svechin's grandson was Prince Nikolai Obolensky, Adjutant General.