Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1856–1929)

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia was a Russian general in World War I (1914–1918). The son of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1831–1891), and a grandson of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, he was commander in chief of the Imperial Russian Army units on the main front in the first year of the war, during the reign of his first cousin once removed, Nicholas II. Although held in high regard by Paul von Hindenburg, he struggled with the colossal task of leading Russia's war effort against Germany, including strategy, tactics, logistics and coordination with the government. After the Gorlice–Tarnów offensive in 1915, Tsar Nicholas replaced the Grand Duke as commander-in-chief of the army. He later was a successful commander-in-chief in the Caucasus region. He was briefly recognized as emperor in 1922 in areas controlled by the White movement in the Russian Far East.

18 November 1856

Born on the same birth day (18 November): Alan Dean Foster • Arnett Moultrie • Compay Segundo • Craig Wood (golfer) • Damon Wayans Jr. • Dianne dela Fuente • Frances Gertrude McGill • Franklin Adreon • Gianna D'Angelo • Jeroen Straathof • Joe Thuney • Klaus Mann • Len Bias • Lise Østergaard • Luke Chadwick • Mekia Cox • Michael Dawson (footballer) • November 18 • Petter Solberg • Robert Fryer • Sam Cassell • Tõnis Mägi

Born in the same month (November 1856): Jim McCormick (pitcher) • Jürgen Kröger • Louis Brandeis • Madeleine Lemoyne Ellicott • Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg