Aleksandr Suvorov

Aleksandr Suvorov (1729-1800), Russian military leader, born either in Moscow or in Finland. Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov entered the Russian army as a boy, was made a colonel in 1762 during the Seven Years' War, and became a major general in 1768. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 Suvorov fought in the campaign of 1773-1774 and he was commander of the allied Russian and Austrian armies in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792. For his decisive victory over the Ottoman Turks at the Rimnik (now Rîmnicul) River in 1789 he received the surname Rimniksky and was made a count.

In 1799, during the War of the Second Coalition against revolutionary France, Suvorov commanded the Allied forces in northern Italy. Under his direction they won three successive victories, at Cassano d'Adda, the Trebbia River, and Novi Ligure. Suvorov then led his armies across the Alps to join the Russian forces fighting the French in Switzerland, but he was forced by the French to retreat. He returned to Russia the following year in disgrace and was dismissed from his post by Emperor Paul I. Suvorov died shortly afterward.