Born into a farming family in Amur, Merkulov pursued a law degree at Saint Petersburg Imperial University.

He later worked for the Ministry of State Property before settling in Vladivostok, where he served as a legal adviser to the city government and held roles such as chief inspector at the Northern Insurance Company.

[3] However, in the summer of 1922, his government was replaced by the Zemsky Sobor of the Amur region, led by General Mikhail Diterikhs, who imposed a military dictatorship.

[4] In October 1922, the Red Army captured Vladivostok, and Merkulov unable to return to Russia.

[1] He settled in San Francisco, USA, where he lived for the rest of his life.