Stoletov, Nikolai

Born Nov. 1 (13), 1834; died June 27 (July 10), 1912, in Tsarskoe Selo, now the city of Pushkin, Leningrad Oblast. Russian military leader; general of the infantry (1898). Brother of the physicist A. G. Stoletov.

Stoletov graduated from the faculty of physics and mathematics of Moscow University in 1854 and joined the army as a volunteer. He served in the Crimean War (1853–56) and was promoted to ensign. He graduated from the Academy of the General Staff in 1859 and served in the Caucasus and Turkestan. In 1869, a detachment under his command occupied the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, where Stoletov founded the city of Krasnovodsk. In the 1870’s, Stoletov commanded a regiment and a brigade and directed the Amu Darya research expedition.

As a major general during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, Stoletov commanded the Bulgarian militia and directed the defense of Stara Zagory on July 19 (31) and of the Shipka Pass until August 11 (23). He led the advance guard of General M. D. Skobelev’s troops during the march over the Balkans and at Sheinovo. In 1878, Stoletov headed a diplomatic mission to Afghanistan. In the 1880’s and 1890’s he commanded a division and a corps.