Ivan Dorokhov was born in a noble family in Tula in 1762. In 1787, having graduated from the Artillery and Engineering Military School in St. Petersburg, lieutenant Dorokhov was assigned to the Smolensk Infantry Regiment.
In the same year, the Russo-Turkish war began, in which Dorokhov took part. In 1789, Suvorov gave him a brief certification: ‘He is zealous for service, agile and fearless.’ Dorokhov also participated in the Polish campaign of 1794.
In 1803, Dorokhov was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed the chief of the Izyum Hussar Regiment. With the regiment, he went through the French campaigns in 1805–1807. For the distinction in the battle of Pultusk, he was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd class, and for the excellence in the battle of Preußisch Eylau, the largest battle in the War of the Fourth Coalition, he received the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class.
At the beginning of 1812, Dorokhov commanded the vanguard of the 4th Infantry Corps. When the war began, they forgot to send him an order to retreat. For two weeks, the Major General led the detachment through the enemy’s rear and managed to join the main forces without casualties. In early August, Dorokhov was appointed the commander of the rearguard cavalry of the United Army, and he distinguished himself in the battle of Valutina Hill.
In the Battle of Borodino, Dorokhov commanded four regiments. His cavalry fought mainly on the left flank, where, according to the participants of the battle, “there would be no place for a coward.” The Dorokhov’s soldiers defended the most important fortifications of the Russian troops: Bagration’s fleches and the Raevsky’s battery, also known as the Kurgan battery. For his distinguished actions at Borodino, Dorokhov was promoted to lieutenant general.
Since the 9th of September in 1812, Dorokhov led a partisan squad that operated in the surroundings of the Mozhaysk road. He took part in the assault on Vereya on September 29, for which he was awarded a golden sabre with diamonds and the inscription ‘For courage.’
On the 12th of October, in the battle of Maloyaroslavets, Dorokhov was severely wounded in his leg, and he was forced to leave military service. The wound entailed a disease from which he died three years later. In accordance with the last wish and desire of Dorokhov, he was buried in the Nativity Cathedral of Vereya, a town that he freed from the French.
The portrait of the general was painted after the existing portraits in the studio of the English artist George Dawe. In 1825, the portrait was included in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace glorifying the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. The Museum-Panorama ‘Battle of Borodino’ has a copy of the portrait of Dorokhov made in 1964.
In the same year, the Russo-Turkish war began, in which Dorokhov took part. In 1789, Suvorov gave him a brief certification: ‘He is zealous for service, agile and fearless.’ Dorokhov also participated in the Polish campaign of 1794.
In 1803, Dorokhov was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed the chief of the Izyum Hussar Regiment. With the regiment, he went through the French campaigns in 1805–1807. For the distinction in the battle of Pultusk, he was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd class, and for the excellence in the battle of Preußisch Eylau, the largest battle in the War of the Fourth Coalition, he received the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class.
At the beginning of 1812, Dorokhov commanded the vanguard of the 4th Infantry Corps. When the war began, they forgot to send him an order to retreat. For two weeks, the Major General led the detachment through the enemy’s rear and managed to join the main forces without casualties. In early August, Dorokhov was appointed the commander of the rearguard cavalry of the United Army, and he distinguished himself in the battle of Valutina Hill.
In the Battle of Borodino, Dorokhov commanded four regiments. His cavalry fought mainly on the left flank, where, according to the participants of the battle, “there would be no place for a coward.” The Dorokhov’s soldiers defended the most important fortifications of the Russian troops: Bagration’s fleches and the Raevsky’s battery, also known as the Kurgan battery. For his distinguished actions at Borodino, Dorokhov was promoted to lieutenant general.
Since the 9th of September in 1812, Dorokhov led a partisan squad that operated in the surroundings of the Mozhaysk road. He took part in the assault on Vereya on September 29, for which he was awarded a golden sabre with diamonds and the inscription ‘For courage.’
On the 12th of October, in the battle of Maloyaroslavets, Dorokhov was severely wounded in his leg, and he was forced to leave military service. The wound entailed a disease from which he died three years later. In accordance with the last wish and desire of Dorokhov, he was buried in the Nativity Cathedral of Vereya, a town that he freed from the French.
The portrait of the general was painted after the existing portraits in the studio of the English artist George Dawe. In 1825, the portrait was included in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace glorifying the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. The Museum-Panorama ‘Battle of Borodino’ has a copy of the portrait of Dorokhov made in 1964.
