Early Career
Osten-Sacken was born in Reval, in present day Estonia, into the family of Baron Wilhelm-Ferdinand von der Osten-Sacken, who prior to his death in 1754, was a Captain-adjutant of Count Munnich. Baron Osten-Sacken was only two when his father died and spent his childhood in near-poverty. He entered the Kaporsky Musketry regiment as a sub-ensign on October 18, 1766.
In 1769, during the Russo-Turkish War, 1768–1774, he participated in the blockade of Khotin and in other engagements. For his military valour he was promoted in September of the same year to ensign and in 1770 to second-Lieutenant. From 1770 to 1773 he served in the Nasheburgsky Musketry regiment under command of Alexander Suvorov and fought against the Polish Confederation.
In 1786 he became a Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed to the Moskowsky Grenadier regiment, serving there until 19 July 1789. He was then assigned to the Rostovsky Musketry regiment and fought in the Russo-Turkish War, 1787–1792. For his contributions during the battles at the Prut River and the taking of Focşani he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class, with ribbon. Later he distinguished himself at Izmail and was praised by Suvorov as one of those most contributed by his courage and discretion to gaining the complete victory over the enemy.
On 10 August 1792 he was promoted to Colonel and from 1793 served with the Chernigovsky Musketry regiment in Poland. For his participation in an engagement fought near Vilnius he was awarded a golden sword with an inscription for bravery. On 28 September 1797 he became the Chief of the Yekaterinoslav Grenadier regiment with the rank of Major General and from 11 July 1799 with the rank of Lieutenant-General. After the First Battle of Zürich he was taken prisoner and interred at Nancy until 1801. Upon his return to Russia, he commanded a reserve corps stationed in the Governorates of Grodno and Vladimir.
Read more about this topic: Fabian Gottlieb Von Osten-Sacken
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