Lavr Georgevich Kornilov (
1870-
1918), born in
Kazakhstan, was a career officer in the Russian army - achieving the rank of general. Military attache in
China 1907-
11; he commanded an infantry division at the start of
World War I, but was captured by the Austrians in April
1915. Escaping in July
1916 he was given command of the
Petrograd Military District in March
1917; appointed Supreme
Commander-in-Chief in July
1917. He is most well-known for the
Kornilov Affair, his failed military coup against the
Provisional Government[?] of
Aleksandr Kerensky in September 1917 for which he was imprisoned. Escaping again he helped in the formation of the
Volunteer Army[?] at
Novocherkassk[?] with General
Mikhail Alekseev[?]. He was killed during fighting against the
Soviet forces at the Kuban capital
Ekaterinodar[?] in April
1918 when a shell landed on his headquarters.