Vassily_Soldatenkov

Vassily Soldatenkov

Vassily Soldatenkov

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Vasily Vasilyevich Soldatenkov, (Russian: Солдатёнков, Василий Васильевич; July 14, 1879 – July 31, 1944) more commonly known as Vassily Soldatenkov, was a Russian special envoy, chess player and race car driver.

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Background

He was born into the Soldatenkov family, in 1879 which was a noble merchant family of Moscow, Russia.[1] His father was Vasily Soldatenkov, who worked for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire. His great uncle was Kozma Soldatyonkov, a businessman, textile manufacturer, inventor and book publisher.[2]

Racing

As a child, he was interested in motorsports and chess. He spent most of his early life in Italy.[1] He began participating in motorsports by at least 1904 and became the first Russian to ever go past 101km/h in car named, "Lina".[1] The car was named after the Italian singer, Lina Cavalieri, who he had a romantic relationship with.[1] He won a 5km race in Verona in 1907[1] and competed in the 1911 Targa Florio, where he came in third.[1][3] During the race, he came down with a serious case of ophthalmia.[1] He joined the Imperial Russian Automobile Society in 1912 and became a special envoy for Russia.[4][5]

Chess

Soldatenkov was also known for his chess skills.[6][7] He had defeated chess champion Frank Marshall[8] and was credited with helping to develop the Marshall Attack.[8]

Post racing career

Soldatenkov moved to Italy after the 1917 October Revolution. He was once married to Princess Elena Gorchakov of Russia, but the couple divorced in November 1919.[9][8] He married Madelaine Reece on March 16, 1920.[8][9] She was the niece of Martin Voel (Assistant Chief Treasurer of the United States), but the couple divorced in 1928.[10] Soldatenkov died in Italy in 1944.[11][12]

References

  1. [1]
    Хроника: Величайшее достижение русского гонщика [Chronicle: The greatest achievement of the Russian racer] (in Russian), zr.ru, retrieved 13 March 2023
  2. [2]
    РЕКОРДСМЕН РОССИИ ВАСИЛИЙ СОЛДАТЁНКОВ [RECORD HOLDER OF RUSSIA VASILY SOLDATENKOV] (in Russian), liveinternet.ru, 2018, retrieved 13 March 2023
  3. [3]
    6° Targa Florio 1911 [6th Targa Florio 1911], Driver DB, retrieved 12 April 2023
  4. [4]
    Russian Master Will Play Here, Evening Star, September 17, 1917, 1917, retrieved 12 April 2023
  5. [5]
    Japan and America, United, Will Retain Ties, Envoys Assert, The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 16, 1917, 1917, retrieved 12 April 2023
  6. [6]
    Diplomat Corrects Marshall, The Washington Post, December 1, 1918, 1918, retrieved 12 April 2023
  7. [7]
    Helms, Hermann (1922), Brooklyn vs Marshall C. C., The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, retrieved 12 April 2023
  8. [8]
    Soldatenkov, chesshistory.com, retrieved 12 April 2023
  9. [9]
    Miss Reese, Debutante, Elopes and Weds Russian, New York Herald March 17, Page 11, 1920, retrieved 12 April 2023
  10. [10]
    Divorce Laid to Temperament Clash, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1928, retrieved 12 April 2023
  11. [11]
    ТАКЖЕ РЕКОМЕНДУЕМ ПРОЧИТАТЬ (ДЛЯ ПЕРЕХОДА НАЖМИТЕ НА НАЗВАНИЕ СТАТЬИ) [RECORD HOLDER OF RUSSIA VASILY SOLDATENKOV], Big Asia, retrieved 12 April 2023
  12. [12]
    КАК ВАСИЛИЙ СОЛДАТЁНКОВ ПОКОРЯЛ ГОНОЧНЫЕ ТРАССЫ ЗА РУБЕЖОМ [HOW VASILY SOLDATENKOV CONQUERED RACE TRACKS ABROAD], Big Asia, 2021, retrieved 12 April 2023
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