Baron Peter Nikolaevich Wrangel was an outstanding representative of an ancient Swedish baronial family that faithfully served the Russian Empire for centuries.

Peter Nikolaevich was born on August 27, 1878, in Novoaleksandrovsk, Kovno province. His father was a retired officer, scholar, entrepreneur, and writer, as well as a well-known collector of antiques. His mother, Maria Dmitrievna, was actively involved in charity and founded a school in Rostov-on-Don. During the Civil War, she lived in Petrograd and saw posters every day calling for action against her son.

The Wrangel family traces its history back to the 13th century and has produced many notable figures for Russia. The name of one of Peter Nikolaevich's ancestors is memorialized in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior among the lists of the dead and wounded in the Patriotic War of 1812. Another relative captured Imam Shamil, and an island in the Arctic Ocean is named after Admiral Ferdinand Wrangel. Peter's younger brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich Wrangel, was an art historian and a staff member of the Hermitage, who passed away in 1915.

Peter Nikolaevich graduated from the Rostov Real School in 1896 and the Mining Institute in St. Petersburg in 1901, becoming an engineer. However, he was more attracted to military service. In 1902, he became a cornet of the guard, but due to an incident with his commander, he was placed in reserve and sent to Irkutsk to serve under the governor-general.

With the onset of the Russo-Japanese War, Wrangel went to the front, where he served in Cossack units and earned the respect of the Cossacks. His letters from the front, sent by his mother to the newspaper, made his name known. For his bravery, he was awarded orders and promoted to sotnik. In 1906, he was assigned to the 55th Dragoon Finland Regiment, and in 1907, he was transferred back to the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment.

In 1910, Wrangel graduated from the Nikolayev Military Academy of the General Staff and in 1911 from the Officer Military School. He married Olga Nikolaevna Ivanenko, and by the beginning of World War I, they had three children.

Wrangel began the war as a rotmistr and squadron commander. For his feat at Kraupishken, he was awarded the Order of Saint George 4th class. In December 1914, he became a colonel, and in 1915, he commanded the 1st Nerchinsk Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army. In 1917, he was promoted to major general and appointed commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Ussuri Cavalry Division.

After the October Revolution, Wrangel refused to serve the Bolsheviks and left for Crimea. He was arrested but escaped execution thanks to his wife's intervention. Later, he joined the Volunteer Army and commanded the 1st Cavalry Division and the 1st Cavalry Corps.

In 1920, Wrangel became the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Southern Russia, renamed the Russian Army. He implemented reforms, improved the state of the army, and established relations with allies. However, despite successes, he could not hold Crimea, and the Russian exodus began, during which about 150,000 people were evacuated.

After emigration, Wrangel found himself under arrest but maintained discipline among his troops. In 1921, there was an assassination attempt on him, but he survived. In 1922, he settled in Sremski Karlovci, and in 1927, he moved to Brussels, where he worked as an engineer.

In March 1928, Wrangel was poisoned and died on April 25. He was buried in Brussels and later reburied in Belgrade. The name of Wrangel is still honored in Serbia and other countries, and is being returned to Russia. Monuments have been erected in his honor, and commemorative events are held.