William Fermor (28 September 1702-8 February 1772) was a general of the Imperial Russian Army.
Biography[]
William Fermor was born in Pskov, Russia to a family of Scottish and German descent. He joined the Imperial Russian Army in 1720 and served in Poland during the War of the Polish Succession and in wars with the Turks and Finns, and he befriended several other German-stock officers such as his mentor, Burkhard Christoph von Munnich. During the Seven Years' War, Fermor captured Memel and became commander of the Russian forces in East Prussia in 1758, and he was relieved from command after fighting Frederick the Great to a draw at the Battle of Zorndorf. In 1760, however, he was restored to command and briefly occupied Berlin before withdrawing. He was made Governor of Smolensk following Catherine the Great's coup, and he died in 1772.