Outstanding Russian general Lavr Georgievich Kornilov was born on August 30, 1870, in the Cossack stanitsa of Ust-Kamenogorsk. His father, Yegoriy Nikolaevich, was a simple Cossack who rose to the rank of podkhorunzhiy and later worked as a clerk. His mother, Praskovya Ilinichna Khlynovskaya, came from an ancient Cossack family and had Polish and Kalmyk roots, which reflected in Lavr Georgievich's appearance. The family lived modestly and could not afford a French language teacher, so when he entered the cadet corps in 1883, the instructors were reluctant to accept the future general. However, one of the officers recognized his talent, and within six months of training, Lavr became the best in all subjects, including French.

Lavr Georgievich showed brilliant results, graduating from the cadet corps, Mikhailovskoye Artillery School with a small gold medal, and the General Staff Academy. He could choose any guard regiment or stay in the General Staff, but he aspired to Turkestan. Due to his appearance, he infiltrated areas inaccessible even to professional scouts, gathering valuable information, and also published a military textbook and compiled detailed maps of the terrain. For his outstanding achievements, he was awarded twice and met the Russo-Japanese War with the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the front, Lavr Georgievich distinguished himself multiple times, receiving the Order of Saint George 4th class, promoted to colonel, and later awarded the George's weapon.

In peacetime, Kornilov first served in the General Staff, then requested a transfer, served as a military attaché in China, and was a member of the Imperial Geographical Society. For his brilliant service, he was again awarded and promoted to general. Kornilov met World War I as the commander of the 48th Infantry Division, later nicknamed "Steel." Kornilov successfully crushed the enemy with sudden attacks. Once, leading a hundred scouts, he overturned two enemy regiments and captured an Austrian general. During the retreat, Kornilov's division heroically held back the enemy but suffered heavy losses. Kornilov personally led one of the battalions and drove it to breakthrough, being wounded twice in battle and captured after four days of wandering. Nicholas II personally signed the order to award the general the Order of Saint George 3rd class. Soon, Kornilov was struck off the army lists, but he did not resign himself and escaped captivity on his third attempt.