Fyodor Fedorovich Ertel (Russian: Фёдор Фёдорович Эртель; 12 January 1768,

Labiau Polessk (russian: Поле́сск; german: Labiau; lt, Labguva; pl, Labiawa) is a town and the administrative center of Polessky District in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Kaliningrad, the administrative center of the oblas ...

, Prussia - 8 April 1825, Mogilev) was a Prussian-born naval and army officer who served in the armed forces of the Russian Empire.

Life

From an impoverished noble family in Prussia, he joined Smolensk military school as a Prussian officer cadet. In 1784 he received the rank of ensign but left the Prussian army later that year and emigrated to the Russian Empire, where he joined a naval battalion the following year. He volunteered for the

Russo-Swedish War (1788–90) Wars between Russia and Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> ...

and served until losing his right eye on 23 August 1789. He was dismissed from the service in October 1789 but returned to the military on 12 November 1796, this time as an instructor in the army. He was soon promoted to major in the Grenadier Life Guards Regiment and he continued to rise after the accession of

Paul I of Russia Paul I (russian: Па́вел I Петро́вич ; – ) was Emperor of Russia from 1796 until his assassination. Officially, he was the only son of Peter III of Russia, Peter III and Catherine the Great, although Catherine hinted that he w ...

. In 1798 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, major general and chief of police, gaining a reputation as exceptionally severe and rigorous.

Sources

*Государственный Эрмитаж. Западноевропейская живопись. Каталог / под ред. В. Ф. Левинсона-Лессинга; ред. А. Е. Кроль, К. М. Семенова. — 2-е издание, переработанное и дополненное. — Л.: Искусство, 1981. — Т. 2. — С. 261, кат.№ 7840. — 360 с. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ertel, Fyodor 1768 births 1825 deaths People from Polessky District People from East Prussia German untitled nobility German emigrants to the Russian Empire Russian people of German descent Generals of the infantry (Russian Empire) Russian commanders of the Napoleonic Wars Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Third Degree Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 1st class