He entered the Imperial Russian Navy in 1859 as a cabin boy, graduating from the Sea Cadet Corps in 1862 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1868.

Birilev was promoted to rear admiral in 1894 and commanded the ordnance department of the Russian Navy.

However, he heard of the defeat at the Battle of Tsushima while still traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and immediately sent a telegram to Tsar Nicholas II asking to be relieved of the command.

[3] In July 1905 he replaced Fyodor Avelan as Navy Minister, holding this position until January 1907.

At the beginning of World War I, he started a charity to assist the injured and the families of sailors.