Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev (1886, 1921) was a Russian poet, prose writer, literary critic, and translator, one of the representatives of Silver Age literature and the founder of the Russian Acmeism school. His works and worldview were dominated by the idea of the superiority of spirit over body.

Gumilev was born on April 3 (15), 1886, in Kronstadt to a ship's doctor. His childhood was spent in Tsarskoye Selo and then in Tiflis. His first poem "I ran to the forest from the cities..." was published in 1902.

In 1903, he entered the 7th grade of the Tsarskoye Selo gymnasium and met Anna Gorenko (Akhmatova), his future wife. In 1905, his first collection "The Path of Conquistadors" was published, marking an important event in his life.

After graduating from gymnasium in 1906, Gumilev went to Paris and enrolled in the Sorbonne. In France, he attempted to publish the magazine "Sirius" in 1907. In 1908, his second collection "Romantic Flowers," dedicated to Anna Akhmatova, was published, marking the beginning of his mature creativity.

Upon returning to Russia, Gumilev soon traveled again, visiting Sinope, Istanbul, Greece, Egypt, and African countries. In 1909, he enrolled in St. Petersburg University in the law faculty but later transferred to the historical and philological faculty. He actively participated in the creation of the magazine "Apollo." In 1910, his collection "Pearls" was published, receiving positive reviews from critics. In April of the same year, he married Anna Akhmatova.

In 1911, Gumilev participated in the creation of the poetic association "The Workshop of Poets," which included O. Mandelstam, S. Gorodetsky, and others. In 1912, he announced a new artistic movement, Acmeism, the magazine "Hyperborea" was created, and his collection "Someone Else's Sky" was published.

With the onset of World War I, Gumilev voluntarily went to the front and was awarded two St. George's crosses for bravery. In 1917, while in Paris, he fell in love with Elena du Bushe and dedicated the collection "To the Blue Star" to her.

In 1918, Gumilev returned to Russia and divorced Akhmatova. In 1919 and 1920, he worked at the publishing house "World Literature," taught, and engaged in translations. In 1919, he married Anna Engelhardt, and his collection "The Fiery Pillar" (1921) was dedicated to her.

In August 1921, Gumilev was arrested on charges of participating in an anti-government conspiracy. Three weeks later, he was sentenced to death by shooting, which was carried out the next day. The exact date and place of his burial remain unknown.