Nikolay Alexeyevich Orlov

In 1846, he was attached to the staff of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, the Tzar's son.

Promoted to colonel, he was sent to the Army of the Danube under Field Marshal Paskevich, where against the Turks at the siege of Silistria he led the charge that took the fortress, was mentioned in dispatches as showing exception bravery, and was awarded the Order of St. George; but his severe wounds, he lost an eye and an arm, put him on medical leave and he spent sixteen months convalescing in Italy.

It was there that he wrote his Очерк 3-недельного похода Наполеона I против Пруссии в 1806 году [Sketch of the 3-week campaign of Napoleon I against Prussia in 1806].

Beginning in 1858, he began to publish works on social reform, promoting religious tolerance and civility.

In 1861 he presented the Tzar with his "On the abolition of corporal punishment in Russia and in the Kingdom of Poland" which subsequently resulted in the decree of 17 April 1863, substantially eliminating it.