Mikhail Illarionovich Goleniщev-Kutuzov was born on September 16, 1745. His father was an officer, which allowed Mikhail to enroll in the artillery and engineering noble school, which he graduated from in 1761. From that moment on, his life was inextricably linked to the army. Just a year later, Kutuzov rose to the rank of captain and became the commander of a company in the Astrakhan 12th Grenadier Infantry Regiment. In 1770, he was transferred to the first army, where he participated in battles against Turkish troops. Mikhail proved himself to be a talented officer, confidently leading his subordinates in various operations. For his successes in 1771, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

In 1772, Kutuzov was transferred to the second Crimean army. According to one version, this happened due to his mockery of Commander Rumyantsev. In one of the battles with the Turks, he was wounded: a bullet pierced his temple and exited near his eyes, passing through his head. Doctors believed he would not survive, but Kutuzov recovered and returned to service. Despite popular belief, he did not go blind in one eye, although the injured eye was damaged, his vision was preserved.

In 1788, Kutuzov was wounded again while leading the defense of the fortress of Ochakov, besieged by the Turks. A shrapnel hit his cheek and exited from the back of his head, again passing through his head. He survived and returned to duty.

In 1790, Kutuzov successfully led the capture of the fortress of Izmail, for which he was awarded the rank of major general.

After the defeat at Austerlitz in 1805, he held secondary positions. In 1811, the emperor appointed him commander of the Danube army fighting the Turks. Kutuzov achieved a series of victories, forcing Turkey to begin peace negotiations. For this, he was granted the title of count and concluded a favorable peace treaty, improving the strategic situation before the Patriotic War.

Kutuzov played a key role in the victory over Napoleon. On August 29, 1812, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops. On September 7, the Battle of Borodino began, after which he became a field marshal. Although the French failed to win, due to a lack of troops, Kutuzov could not counterattack. He made the decision to surrender Moscow to strengthen the army in the Torutino camp. Soon, Napoleon left Moscow, and Kutuzov began the pursuit, ensuring that only a few enemies managed to leave Russia.

His contemporaries highly valued his military talent, although he faced criticism, especially after the defeat at Austerlitz. In the 1812 campaign, he was even accused of colluding with Napoleon, allegedly wanting to help the French leave Russia with minimal losses.

In 1813, Russian troops continued the fight against France and its allies. During the campaign, Kutuzov caught a severe cold, his condition worsened, and he died on April 28. Mikhail Kutuzov was buried in St. Petersburg.