Robert Nikolaevich Viren | |
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| Other name | Robert Reinhold von Wirén |
| Born | 6 January [O.S. 25 December 1856] 1857 Novgorod,Novgorod Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 14 March [O.S. 2] 1917 (aged 60) Kronstadt,Petrograd Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Russia |
| Branch |  Imperial Russian Navy |
| Service years | 1877–1917 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Conflicts | |
Robert Nikolayevich Viren (Russian:Роберт Николаевич Вирен; 6 January 1857 – 14 March 1917), also known asRobert Reinhold von Wirén, was aBaltic German career naval officer in theImperial Russian Navy,[1][2] noted for his role in theRusso-Japanese War of 1904–1905.[3]
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Viren was ofFinnish [fi;ru] descent through his paternal grandfather Johan Petterinpoika Viinikka fromVirrat.[4] Viren was a graduate of theSea Cadets in 1877 and served as a midshipman on a clipper ship with theBaltic Fleet. In 1883, he was promoted to lieutenant and was awarded theOrder of St. Stanislaus, 3rd degree. He graduated from the Mine Warfare School in 1884 and was awarded theOrder of St. Anna 3rd degree in 1888. After graduating from theNikolaev Maritime Academy in 1889, he served as a mine warfare officer on the battleshipPetr Veliky in 1891 and was promoted to lieutenant commander. He became captain, 2nd rank in 1894. He subsequently commanded a number of vessels with the Baltic Fleet, and was promoted to captain, 1st rank in 1901. In 1903 he was given command of the modernarmored cruiserBayan.
At the start of theRusso-Japanese War, Viren was commanding theBayan as part of the Russian Pacific Squadron based atPort Arthur. During theBattle of Port Arthur he developed a reputation as a daring and capable commander.[3] Following the death of AdmiralWilgelm Vitgeft at theBattle of the Yellow Sea, PrincePavel Ukhtomsky briefly took command of the Port Arthur Squadron, but could not command the support or respect of his peers. As no one officer could reach the besieged port, Viren, although a relatively junior officer with low seniority was promoted to rear admiral and on 4 September 1904 took command of the squadron during the last four months of the siege.[3] During this time, with the besieged fleet unable to sortie and under continuous bombardment from land, Viren ordered that his warships be stripped of their guns, which were used to bolster the port's landward defenses, and his sailors were ordered to fight asnaval infantry. He was wounded in combat in November 1904. After the surrender of Port Arthur, he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese. After the war, he was awarded theGold Sword for Bravery and theOrder of St George, 4th degree, as well as the Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st class with swords.
Viren was also appointed the head of artillery training for the Baltic Fleet in 1906–1907, and became commander of theBlack Sea Fleet from 1907 to 1908. He was noted as a strict disciplinarian. He served on an Admiralty Board from 1908 to 1909. In 1909, he became the commandant of the port ofKronstadt and was promoted to vice admiral.[3]
After the start of World War I, Viren was promoted to admiral on 15 February 1915. In 1916, he was awarded the Order of St George, 3rd degree, for personal bravery in preventing the explosion of a powder magazine in the Petrovsky Fort at Kronstadt. However, after the start of March 1917February Revolution, Viren was one of several senior officers bayoneted during the Kronstadt mutiny in Anchor Square, Kronstadt, by pro-Bolshevik sailors.
Viren was buried in Lutheran (German) cemetery in Kronstadt. The exact location was lost, but in the 1990s a symbolic memorial stone was erected there in his memory.
Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd degree
Order of St. Anne, 3rd degreeOrder of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd degreeOrder of St. Anne, 2nd degree
Order of St Vladimir, 4th class with bowOrder of St Vladimir, 3rd classOrder of Saint Stanislaus, 1st degreeOrder of St. AnneOrder of St Vladimir, 2nd class
Order of the White Eagle
Order of St. George, 4th class| International | |
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