As a result of not knowing what day it is due to post-Christmas lethargy, we inexcusably neglected to mark the anniversary of the birth of Barclay de Tolly yesterday. So here's a thread to make up for it.

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly was born, probably in Pamusis in Lithuania, on 27 December 1759. His year of birth is usually given as 1761, but the latest research indicates otherwise.

His peculiar name comes from the fact that he was a descendant of the Scottish Clan Barclay who hailed from Towie Castle and were thus known as Barclays of Towie.

His ancestor Peter Barclay of Towie emigrated from Scotland to the Baltic coast in the 17th century, where the family name would be corrupted to Barclay de Tolly. Peter's grandson (and Michael's grandfather) Wilhelm Barclay de Tolly would serve as Mayor of Riga.

As a result of Peter the Great's conquests, Livonia became part of the Russian Empire. Michael's father Gotthard was known by the name Bogdan so his son's name in Russian was Mikhail Bogdanovich.

Michael followed his father into the Russian army at a young age, first seeing action against the Turks in 1788-89 as a jaeger officer under the command of the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg in Prince Potemkin's army.

In 1790 Barclay joined the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg the Russo-Swedish War, where the latter was mortally wounded during the opening engagements. He bequeathed his sword to Barclay, whom he regarded as a trusted, brave, and competent officer.

Barclay then served in Suvorov's army in Poland in 1794 during the campaign against Kosciusko's uprising. He was subsequently made commander of the Estland Jaeger Regiment and in 1799 was promoted to Major General.

While competent, loyal, brave, and loved by his men, Barclay was never regarded as a particularly brilliant or inspiring officer. This began to change in 1806-07, when he fought well at the Battle of Pultusk and was heavily wounded while commanding the rearguard at Eylau.

Barclay's wound would normally have required amputation, but the care of the Tsar's physician James Wylie ensured that he would keep his arm, albeit with restricted mobility.

While still recovering from his wounds, Barclay met Tsar Alexander for the first time following the defeat at Friedland. Barclay suggested that the campaign could still be won if the Russian army retreated into Russia itself, extending Napoleon's supply lines.

The Tsar was impressed by Barclay's suggestion and recognised his talents, but for the time being opted to make peace with Napoleon at Tilsit.

In 1809 Barclay took part in the Russo-Swedish War, leading a column of 5,000 men across the frozen Gulf of Bothnia to surprise the Swedish garrison at Umea. For this feat he was promoted to full General of Infantry.

After the Treaty of Fredrikshamn brought Finland into the Russian Empire, Barclay was soon appointed Military Governor of Finland based in Abo (Turku) and proved a diligent administrator working effectively with the local Finnish elites.

By 1810, Tsar Alexander could see that war with Napoleon was looming. He needed someone who could be trusted to reform the Russian army along French lines. He duly appointed Barclay as Minister of War.

Barclay proved an energetic and hardworking reformer. Within two years the reform was complete, reforming not only the field regulations but the command structure. In early 1812 Barclay was unexpectedly chosen to command the First Western Army in Vilnius.

We've talked a lot about Barclay in 1812 already: realising that Napoleon's objective was to defeat the Russian army in a field battle, Barclay chose to retreat in front of the numerically superior enemy, earning the rebuke of Prince Bagration and his own Chief of Staff Ermolov.

At the Battle of Borodino, having recently been superceded by Kutuzov, Barclay displayed great personal courage and had 5 horses killed from under him. Near the end of the battle Barclay directed the Russian cavalry in the bloody melee behind the Great Redoubt.

After the retreat from Borodino, at the Council of Fili Barclay advised leaving Moscow to Napoleon while the Russian army could move closer to reinforcements. He was bitterly opposed several officers, led by Bennigsen, but Kutuzov agreed with Barclay and ordered retreat.

Having fallen seriously ill days before the Council of Fili, and with his command effectively merged with Kutuzov's, he requested sick leave which was granted by Kutuzov, and began the long journey back to his estate at Beckhof (Jogeveste, Estonia.)

Barclay would not be out of action for long. Recovered from his wounds, in the spring of 1813 he replaced Admiral Chichagov as commander of the Third Army, and soon took command of the allied Russo-Prussian army when Wittgenstein resigned.

Barclay was at the defeat at Dresden, but helped to turn the tables round at the Battle of Kulm, where he won the Order of St George 1st Class, becoming the second (after Kutuzov) of four men to be awarded all four classes of the Order of St George.

In October, Barclay then played a major role at Leipzig as commander of the allied centre. Following the Tsar Alexander made him Count of the Russian Empire.

In 1814 Barclay with Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia marched on Paris. With the allies panicking after Napoleon's brilliant six days campaign, Barclay proposed sending a force under Raevsky straight to Paris, which forced Marmont's capitulation at the Battle of Montmartre.

After Napoleon's escape from Elba in 1815 Barclay again took command of the Russian army, which was still on the march when they received news of Wellington and Blucher's victory at Waterloo. Barclay returned to Russia and continued to serve as commander-in-chief.

With his health deteriorating, he repeatedly requested leave from the Tsar. By the time this was finally granted in 1818, it was too late. On his way to seek treatment in Germany, Barclay died at Insterburg in Prussia (now Chernyakhovsk, Russia.)

King Frederick William of Prussia gave a military escort to the late Russian Field Marshal's body. The Tsar hoped Barclay would be buried in Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg alongside Kutuzov.

Instead, Barclay's wife insisted on following his final wishes, and he was buried at his estate. A wooden mausoleum was constructed, later replaced by a neoclassical building built in 1823 designed by Vasily Demut-Malinovsky and Apollon Shchedrin.

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