As a captain in the army of the Venetian Republic, he transferred to the Imperial Russian military service on 15 June 1788 as a lieutenant in the Nasheburg Infantry Regiment.

In three months he was promoted to captain on 9 September 1788 for recruiting 186 Slav volunteers, and transferred to the Finnish Chasseurs Corps and, on 25 March 1793, to the Shirvan Infantry Regiment.

He participated in the Battle of Lemo against the Swedes (1808-1809); based on merit, on 18 October 1808, he was elevated to major general.

[4] He participated in the Patriotic War of 1812 and served in multiple major battles, including Borodino, at which he was severely wounded.

On 12 December 1816 (Old Calendar), he took his military retirement on medical grounds, left the service with the uniform and full salary,[4] and joined uncle Marko Ivelich in a business venture with the Russian-American Company.