Dmitry Ivanovich Sviatopolk-Mirsky

Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Svyatopolk-Mirsky (, 1825–1899) was an Imperial Russian Army general, a politician and a member of the princely Svyatopolk-Mirsky family. Background Svyatopolk-Mirsky was born to the family of Tomasz Bogumił Jan Światopełk-Mirski, the ambassador to Russia from the semi-independent Kingdom of Poland. Dmitry's patronymic Ivanovich was based on a Russified form of the third name of his father. Despite being a member of a Polish szlachta, he was brought up in Saint Petersburg and considered himself Russian. The family's princely title was confirmed by the tsars when they relocated to Russia. Career He began his military service in 1841 in the Caucasian War, fighting against Chechens and Daghestanis. During the Crimean War, he took part in the battles in Kurukdere and Bayandur in Armenia. He commanded the Chernigov Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Chernaya River, where he was seriously wounded. During the Crimean War, he became acquainted with the then junior officer Leo Tolstoy, with whom he had lifelong correspondence.