Aleksei Alekseyevich Birelev (russian: Алексей Алексеевич Бирилёв) (16 March 1844 – 6 February 1915) was an admiral in the

Imperial Russian Navy The Imperial Russian Navy () operated as the navy of the Russian Tsardom and later the Russian Empire from 1696 to 1917. Formally established in 1696, it lasted until dissolved in the wake of the February Revolution of 1917. It developed from a ...

, a member of the

State Council State Council may refer to: Government * State Council of the Republic of Korea, the national cabinet of South Korea, headed by the President * State Council of the People's Republic of China, the national cabinet and chief administrative auth ...

and Minister of the Navy in the Imperial Government.

Biography

Birilev was born into a family of relatively poor Russian nobility, without an estate. He entered the Imperial Russian Navy in 1859 as a cabin boy, graduating from the

Sea Cadet Corps Sea cadets are members of a sea cadet corps, a formal uniformed youth organisation for young people with an interest in waterborne activities and or the national navy. The organisation may be sponsored in whole or in part by the navy or a naval s ...

in 1862 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1868. He made two trips around the world, from 1859-1865 and 1869-1872. Between 1880 and 1894 he commanded the frigate ''Admiral Lazarev'', cruiser ''Lieutenant Ilyin'' (1886-1887), cruiser ''Plastun'' (1888), armoured cruiser ''Minin'' (1890-1892), coastal battleship (1893) and (1893-1894). Birilev was promoted to rear admiral in 1894 and commanded the ordnance department of the Russian Navy. From 1900 to 1904, he commanded the Mediterranean squadron of the Russian Navy becoming vice admiral in 1901. In February 1904 he was appointed commander of the

Baltic Fleet , image = Great emblem of the Baltic fleet.svg , image_size = 150 , caption = Baltic Fleet Great ensign , dates = 18 May 1703 – present , country = , allegiance = (1703–1721) (1721–1917) (1917–1922) (1922–1991)(1991–present) ...

and military governor of

Kronstadt Kronstadt (russian: Кроншта́дт, Kronshtadt ), also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt or Kronštádt (from german: link=no, Krone for "crown" and ''Stadt'' for "city") is a Russian port city in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of ...

. In May 1905 he was appointed commander of the Pacific Fleet, and departed for

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( rus, Владивосто́к, a=Владивосток.ogg, p=vɫədʲɪvɐˈstok) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia. The city is located around the Zolotoy Rog, Golden Horn Bay on the Sea ...

where he was intended to assume command of the Second Pacific Squadron from Admiral

Zinovy Rozhestvensky Zinovy Petrovich Rozhestvensky (russian: Зиновий Петрович Рожественский, tr. ; – January 14, 1909) was an admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy. He was in command of the Second Pacific Squadron in the Battle of Tsu ...

on its arrival. However, he heard of the defeat at the Battle of Tsushima while still traveling on the

Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR; , , ) connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway line in the world. It runs from the city of Moscow in the west to the city of Vladivostok in the ea ...

, and immediately sent a telegram to

Tsar Nicholas II Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov; spelled in pre-revolutionary script. ( 186817 July 1918), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,. was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Polan ...

asking to be relieved of the command. He returned to Saint Petersburg after only two months in Vladivostok. In July 1905 he replaced

Fyodor Avelan Theodor Kristian Avellan (, Fyodor Karlovich Avelan; 12 September 1839 – 30 September 1916) was a Finland-Swedish admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy, noted for his role in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. Although castigated by the ...

as Navy Minister, holding this position until January 1907. He made efforts to rebuild the Imperial Russian Navy, but with limited success. From November 1905, he was also a member of the

. He chaired the Admiralty Council and was on the National Defence Council. He was also one of the signatories to the secret

Treaty of Björkö The Treaty of Björkö, also known as the Treaty of Koivisto, was a secret mutual defense accord signed on 24 July 1905 in Björkö between Wilhelm II of the German Empire and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Wilhelm was the chief author, but he acted ...

between Russia and Germany. He was promoted to Admiral in July 1907. At the beginning of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he started a charity to assist the injured and the families of sailors. He died in 1915.

Awards

Order of St Vladimir The Imperial Order of Saint Prince Vladimir (russian: орден Святого Владимира) was an Imperial Russian order established on by Empress Catherine the Great, Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Vladimir I, Prince of Kiev, ...

4th degree * Saint vladimir (bande)

3rd degree * Saint vladimir (bande)

2nd degree * Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar

Order of St. Anne 3rd degree * Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar

Order of St. Anne 2nd degree * Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar

Order of St. Anne 1st degree * Order of Saint Stanislaus Ribbon

Order of St. Stanislaus The Order of Saint Stanislaus ( pl, Order Św. Stanisława Biskupa Męczennika, russian: Орден Святого Станислава), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Ponia ...

3rd degree * Order of Saint Stanislaus Ribbon

2nd degree * Order of Saint Stanislaus Ribbon

1st degree * Order of the White Eagle *

Order of St. Alexander Nevsky The Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky was an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire first awarded on by Empress Catherine I of Russia. History The introduction of the Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky was envisioned by Empero ...

;Foreign orders and decorations * : Grand Cordon,

Order of Medjidie Order of the Medjidie ( ota, نشانِ مجیدی, August 29, 1852 – 1922) is a military and civilian order of the Ottoman Empire. The Order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdulmejid I. History Instituted in 1851, the Order was awarded in fi ...

, 23 February 1900, during and audience with the Sultan in Constantinople.

References

* * Витте С. Ю. Воспоминания. М., 1960 * Гурко В. И. Черты и силуэты прошлого. М., 2000 * Джунковский В. Ф. Воспоминания. М., 1977 * Толстой, И. И. Воспоминания министра народного просвещения графа И. И. Толстого. 31 октября 1905 to 24 апреля 1906 гг. М., 1977

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birilev, Aleksei 1844 births 1915 deaths Imperial Russian Navy admirals Russian military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War Members of the State Council (Russian Empire) People from Tver Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 1st class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 1st class Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia) Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class Burials at Nikolskoe Cemetery Naval Cadet Corps alumni