BIREN, be-fon, or BIRON, Ernest John von (DUKE OF COURLAND), Russian statesman (grandson of a groom of James, Duke of Courland, and the son of a Courland pro prietor of the name of Biihren): b. 1687; d. 28 Dec. 1772. He studied at Kfinigsberg, se cured the favoi•of Anna Ivanovna, Duchess of Courland, and niece of Peter the Great of Russia; but he was unsuccessful in his at tempt to obtain admission among the Courland nobility. When, in 1730, Anna ascended the Russian throne, Biren was loaded by her with honors and introduced at the Russian court. Here he assumed the name and arms of the dukes of Biron in France. Fierce and haugh ty by nature, he indulged his hatred against the rivals of his ambition. The princes Dol gorucky were his first victims. He caused 11,000 persons to be put to death and double that number to be exiled. It is said that the Empress often threw herself at his feet to in duce him to lay aside his severity, but that neither her entreaties nor her tears were able to move him. The firmness of his character, however, introduced vigor and activity into all branches of the administration throughout the empire. In 1737 Anna forced the Cour landers to choose her favorite (who had in 1722 married a Courland lady) for their duke. After declaring Prince Ivan her successor, she appointed Biren regent. Anna died 28 Oct. 1740. The new regent acted with pru dence and moderation. But a secret conspir acy was soon formed against him. Field-Mar
shal Miinnich caused him to be arrested in his bed during the night of 19 Nov. 1740 and to be confined in the castle of Schltisselburg. He was subjected to a trial; but the sentence of death was changed into that of imprisonment for life and his fortune was declared confis cated. Together with his family he was trans ported to Pelym, in Siberia, and thrown into a prison, of which Mfinnich himself had furnished the plan. In the following year Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, being to the Russian throne by a new revolution, Biter' was recalled 20 Dec. 1741, and Miinnich was •obliged to occupy his prison. At Kasan the sledges met; the travelers recognized each •other and proceeded on their way without in terchanging a word. Biren was detained at Jaroslav and only received his full liberty in 1762 from Peter IIL When Catherine II as cenxled the throne the duchy of Courland was restored to Biren in 1763. He governed with wisdom and lenity, transferring the govern ment to his eldest son, Peter. Consult Halem, 'Lebensbeschreibung des russischen General Feld-marschalls Miinnich) (Oldenburg 1803); Rambaud, 'Russia' (Vol. II); Rambaud and Lavisse, 'Histoire generale) (Paris 1893-1901); Ruehl, (Geschichte E. J. von Birons' (1764),; 'Les antiquites russes' (Moscow 1884) ; and d'Anna Ivanovna' (in L'Archive Russe, Vols. II and III, Moscow 1873-77).