Yakov Povalo-Shveykovsky

Yakov Ivanovich Povalo-Shveikovsky (Shveykovsky, Schveikovsky; ; October 20, 1750 – October 9, 1807) was a Russian General of the Infantry (then the acting Privy Councillor).

Biography

Povalo-Shveikovsky, who belonged to a family from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (the family came into Russian allegiance after the conquest of Smolensk in 1654), began his service in the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment as a corporal (1768) and in 1771 was promoted to officer in the Novgorod Infantry Regiment.

In 1778 he was transferred to the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment as a captain, in 1784 he was appointed colonel in the Ukrainian Light Horse Regiment, commanding which he was at the siege of Ochakov.

In 1789 Povalo was a brigadier, in 1791 — major-general and chief of the Smolensk Musketeer Regiment, in 1798 — lieutenant-general, in 1799 — General of the Infantry Povalo participated with distinction in Suvorov's Italian campaign: in the affair at the river Oglio, commanding a detachment, he forced to retreat the French who prevented the passage of his troops across this river (22 April 1799); at Lecco and on the river Adda defeated a French detachment (26 April ); on the march to Milan forced another French detachment to surrender (28 April ); occupied Valenza (20 May); commanded a division in the affairs at the rivers Tidone and Trebia, at which he was wounded (17–20 June); with a 10,000-strong corps of Russo-Austrian troops covered the siege of the Serravalle fortress (July–August); at Novi he commanded a regiment and withstood the attacks of his enemy for a whole day, repelling them with success (15 August).

Since the Russian troops' entry into Switzerland Povalo was a duty general in the army. Awards for the Italian campaign were: the rank of General of the Infantry, the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. John of Jerusalem. In April 1800, Povalo was appointed military governor of Kiev, but in the same year "for a false report" dismissed by Emperor Paul I from service. Accepted by him (5 February 1801) again in the service, Povalo was renamed an acting Privy Councillor and appointed Senator, in which position he died.