Nikolay Tuchkov

Nikolay Alexeivich Tuchkov
Portrait by George Dawe, Military Gallery of the Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum
Born	16 April 1765
Died	30 October 1812 Yaroslavl
Allegiance	Imperial Russia
Service/branch	Infantry
Rank	lieutenant general
Battles/wars	Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790), Kościuszko Uprising, French invasion of Russia

Nikolay Alexeivich Tuchkov (16 April 1765 - 30 October 1812, Yaroslavl) was a Russian general of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790), the suppression of the Kościuszko Uprising and the opposition to the French invasion of Russia. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general and commander of an infantry corps.

Career

The brother of Pavel & Alexander Tuchkov, Nikolay first came to note as a Major General commanding a Brigade of Gortchakov’s wing under Korsakov in Switzerland, 1799, serving at the Second Battle of Zurich 25–26 September. In 1806 he commanded the 5th Division of Buxhowden’s 2nd Army under Kamenskoi in Poland, and served at the Battle of Pultusk 26 December. In the January 1807 offensive he commanded three Divisions (5th, 7th & 8th), and the right wing at Eylau 7/8 February 1807, where his troops were the first to be engaged. He was made commander on the Narew front that summer. On 11 June he drove Claparède from Drenzewo & Borki, but was forced back by Andre Masséna on the 12th. After hearing news of the defeat at Friedland on the 27th he abandoned Ostrolenka & retreated on Tykoczin, and was subsequently replaced by Tolstoi before the Treaty of Tilsit.

In 1808 he commanded the 5th Division under Buxhowden in Finland, serving at Revolax, 27 April. Stationed at Kuopio, he was then halted by Sandels at Iidensalmi, 15 October.

Commanding 3 Divisions in Wallachia, he was sent south for operations against Turkey in late August 1811. In 1812 he commanded the 3rd Corps of Barclay de Tolly’s 1st Army of the West. He fought at Smolensk 17 August, then with Württemberg defeated Michel Ney at Valutina Gora (Lubino) on the 19th. Stationed on the left flank at Borodino on 7 September, he was gravely wounded in the chest leading the Pavlov Grenadiers against Utitsa and died three weeks later.

References

• Petre, F. Loraine. Napoleon's Campaign in Poland, 1806–1807. London: John Lane, 1907. OCLC: 504519385