Matvey Palen General of the Cavalry Date of Birth: 19.02.1779 Country: Estonia

Biography of Matvey Palen

Matvey Ivanovich Palen was a Russian general from the Palen noble family. He was born in the ancestral estate of Palme in the Estland Governorate. His father served as a cavalry guard. At a young age, Matvey Palen joined the Horse Guards as a quartermaster and gradually rose through the ranks. In 1797, he began his active service as a cornet in the Riga Cuirassier Regiment. He participated in various battles and earned his first military distinction, the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class.

Palen later joined the Cavalier Guards and became an adjutant to General Tuchkov during the Finnish campaign. He displayed remarkable bravery and leadership, particularly in the night battle of Iisalmi in 1808. For his actions, he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th class. Palen continued serving in various campaigns, including the Patriotic War of 1812, where he commanded a flying detachment and played a crucial role in establishing communication between the main army and Count Wittgenstein's corps.

After the war, Palen returned to Russia and was appointed as the Landrat of the Estland Governorate. He served in this position for seven years before being called to St. Petersburg in 1828. Palen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as the military governor of Riga and the commander of all Ostzeiskaya governorates. He remained in this position until 1847 when he retired and received a pension.

During his tenure as governor, Palen faced challenges such as the Polish uprising in 1831. He took active measures to suppress the rebellion and was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky for his efforts. However, his strict governance and conflicts with the Orthodox Bishop of Riga, Irinarkh, led to his fall out of favor in St. Petersburg.

Palen was also involved in addressing the grievances of the Latvian peasants, who suffered from economic hardships and sought better living conditions. He served as a member of the State Council and participated in the commission to review local regulations in the Ostzeiskaya governorates.

In 1847, Palen retired and spent his remaining years in his ancestral estate of Palme. He received numerous honors and awards for his half-century of exemplary service to the country. Despite his compassionate nature, Palen often prioritized the interests of the Baltic nobility, which limited his ability to bring substantial reforms for the betterment of the local population.