William Fermor
Encyclopedia
William Fermor was an Imperial Russian Army
officer best known for leading his country’s army at the Battle of Zorndorf
during the Seven Years’ War. His name is sometimes styled Wilhelm von Fermor or Villim Villimovich Fermor.
descent. He joined the Russian army in 1720 and distinguished himself at the Battle of Danzig during the War of the Polish Succession
. He later served against the Ottoman Empire
and the Finns. He preferred to mainly associate with the other German
s in Russian service, something which cause resentment to Russian-speaking officers. He was a protégé of Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
.
and was present at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf
.
In 1758 he was appointed to command the Russian forces which had invaded Prussia
during the Seven Years War. He replaced Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
who had displeased Empress Elizabeth. Fermor reversed the previous commander’s policies towards the civilian population of occupied East Prussia
, denouncing the previous hard-line stance, and even having proclamations read apologising for it.
On 25 August 1758 he led his army against Frederick the Great at the Battle of Zorndorf
. The battle ended with both sides claiming victory. Following the battle Fermor withdrew his forces eastwards. He was later relieved of his command and served as a subordinate to Pyotr Saltykov
during 1759.
In 1760 he was in overall command of Russian forces during the Raid on Berlin
, which saw them and their Austrian allies briefly occupy the Prussian capital before withdrawing.
to the throne he was made Governor of Smolensk
. He died in 1771.
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
officer best known for leading his country’s army at the Battle of Zorndorf
Battle of Zorndorf
The Battle of Zorndorf was a battle fought on August 25, 1758 during the Seven Years' War, fought between the forces of the Russians troops under the command of Count William Fermor – and a Prussian army under King Frederick the Great...
during the Seven Years’ War. His name is sometimes styled Wilhelm von Fermor or Villim Villimovich Fermor.
Early life
He was born in 1702, of British and Lutheran Baltic GermanBaltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
descent. He joined the Russian army in 1720 and distinguished himself at the Battle of Danzig during the War of the Polish Succession
War of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
. He later served against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and the Finns. He preferred to mainly associate with the other German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
s in Russian service, something which cause resentment to Russian-speaking officers. He was a protégé of Burkhard Christoph von Münnich
Burkhard Christoph von Munnich
Count Burkhard Christoph von Münnich was a Danish-born German soldier-engineer who became a field marshal and political figure in the Russian Empire. He was the major Russian Army reformer and founder of several elite military formations during the reign of Anna of Russia. As a statesman, he is...
.
Seven Years’ War
In 1757 Fermor led a Russian force that captured Memel in East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
and was present at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf
Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf
The Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf was a victory for the Russian force under Field Marshal Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin over a smaller Prussian force commanded by Field Marshal Hans von Lehwaldt, during the Seven Years' War.- Background :...
.
In 1758 he was appointed to command the Russian forces which had invaded Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
during the Seven Years War. He replaced Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin
Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin , a relative of Fyodor M. Apraksin, commanded the Russian armies during the Seven Years' War. He should not be confused with his son Stepan Stepanovich Apraksin, who had a notable military career in the service of Catherine the Great....
who had displeased Empress Elizabeth. Fermor reversed the previous commander’s policies towards the civilian population of occupied East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
, denouncing the previous hard-line stance, and even having proclamations read apologising for it.
On 25 August 1758 he led his army against Frederick the Great at the Battle of Zorndorf
Battle of Zorndorf
The Battle of Zorndorf was a battle fought on August 25, 1758 during the Seven Years' War, fought between the forces of the Russians troops under the command of Count William Fermor – and a Prussian army under King Frederick the Great...
. The battle ended with both sides claiming victory. Following the battle Fermor withdrew his forces eastwards. He was later relieved of his command and served as a subordinate to Pyotr Saltykov
Pyotr Saltykov
Count Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov was a Russian statesman and a military figure, russian general-fieldmarshal , son of Semyon Saltykov....
during 1759.
In 1760 he was in overall command of Russian forces during the Raid on Berlin
Raid on Berlin
The Raid on Berlin took place in October 1760 during the Seven Years' War when Austrian and Russian forces occupied the Prussian capital of Berlin for several days. After raising money from the city, and with the approach of further Prussian reinforcements, the occupiers withdrew...
, which saw them and their Austrian allies briefly occupy the Prussian capital before withdrawing.
Later life
Following the coup that brought Catherine IICatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
to the throne he was made Governor of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. He died in 1771.