Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich of Russia was born on December 22, 1878, as the youngest son of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna. He was a member of the Romanov family, which ruled Russia for over three centuries. Mikhail served in the Russian Imperial Army during World War I and held the rank of general. In 1917, during the Russian Revolution, Mikhail was forced to abdicate his claim to the throne. He lived in exile in Finland and later in France, where he died on June 30, 1918. His life reflects the turbulent changes in Russia during the early 20th century.