Mikhael Lermontov and General Paul Melikov

Mikhael Lermontov, the great Russian poet and contemporary of Pushkin, wrote a poem about General Paul Melikov (Boghos Melikian), one of the more prominent heros of the Battle of Borodino against Napoleon’s army. Few people know that the celebrated “Russian” writer was of Scottish origin. He was descended from Learmonth of Balcomie, a Scottish mercenary who served a Polish king and the tsar. He was killed in a duel (1841), like his rival/friend Pushkin.

Mikhael Lermontov, the great Russian poet and contemporary of Pushkin, wrote a poem about General Paul Melikov (Boghos Melikian), one of the more prominent heros of the Battle of Borodino against Napoleon’s army. Few people know that the celebrated “Russian” writer was of Scottish origin. He was descended from Learmonth of Balcomie, a Scottish mercenary who served a Polish king and the tsar. He was killed in a duel (1841), like his rival/friend Pushkin.