Ivan Essen
| Ivan Nikolaevich Essen (German: Johann Magnus Gustav von Essen) |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Born | 30 September 1759 Kalvi, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire |
| Died | 20 July or 23 August 1813 |
| Allegiance |
 Russian Empire
|
| Rank | lieutenant general |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Friedland, Patriotic War of 1812 |
| Awards |
Order of St George, 4th degree |
Ivan Nikolaevich Essen (Russian: Иван Николаевич Эссен; German: Johann Magnus Gustav von Essen 30 September 1759 – 20 July or 23 August 1813) was a Russian Empire's lieutenant general and military governor of Riga at the start of the Patriotic War of 1812.
From the Essen family in Estonia, from 1783 to 1785 he fought in Poland, where he was seriously injured. He fought in the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790) as well as Russia's 1792 and 1794 Polish campaigns. For his service at the Battle of Maciejowice he was awarded the 4th degree of the Order of St George.
In 1799 he commanded the first division of the expedition to Holland under the command of general Johann Hermann von Fersen. From 1802 he was the military governor of Smolensk. He then fought in the 1807 war against Napoleon, being seriously wounded at Friedland.
During the Patriotic War of 1812 he served as Military Governor of Riga in place of Dimitri Lobanov-Rostovsky and was forced to set fire to Riga's suburbs as soon as the enemy captured their outermost edge. After unsuccessful attempts to stop the Prussians at a distance from the city and unsuccessfully fighting to save Iecava, he ordered the burning of the suburbs but because of a strong wind the fire got out of control and thousands of city residents were left homeless.
...
Wikipedia