The leader of the world proletariat, Vladimir Lenin, his comrades and relatives

April 22 marks the 140th birthday of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin), a statesman and political figure, a theoretic of Marxism, the founder of the Communist party and the Soviet state. Photo: 1920. Vladimir Lenin at the foundation of the monument Emancipation of Labor on Prechistenskaya Embankment.

Vladimir Lenin ruled the country until 1922, when he was forced to leave the post due to health reasons and arrived at his residence in Gorki, in the Moscow Region. Photo: 1922. Vladimir Lenin with his nephew Viktor, the son of Dmitry Ilyich Ulyanov.

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) was born in April 22, 1870, in Simbirsk (now called Ulyanovsk, on the Volga). Photo: 1887. Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) graduating from Gymnasium №3.

In 1887, the eldest brother of Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin), Alexander, was executed for attempting to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. The death of his brother shocked the young man and since he became an enemy of this regime. Photo: 1900. Vladimir Lenin (center) among leaders of the St. Petersburg organization, the League of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class.

During the 1905 revolution, Lenin returned to Russia but with the start of Stolypin’s reforms, he again emigrated. Photo: 1908. Vladimir Lenin (left) at Maxim Gorky’s residence playing chess with Alexander Bogdanov (right).

1914. Vladimir Lenin walking in the Tatras Mountains in the outskirts of Zakopane Resort.

1918. Vladimir Lenin in his Kremlin office reading the Pravda newspaper.

Vladimir Lenin played a crucial role in signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between Russia and Germany on the one side and Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the other. Photo: 1919. Vladimir Lenin (second from right, top) at the Vseobuch Parade on Red Square.

1920. Vladimir Lenin delivering a speech from the tribune on the square before the people and comrades. To the right of the tribune are well-known revolution leaders – Lev Trotsky and Lev Kamenev.

1920. Vladimir Lenin in his Kremlin apartment during conversations with Lincoln Eyre, a U.S. journalist.

1920. Vladimir Lenin in his Kremlin office talking with writer Herbert George Wells.

1922. Vladimir Lenin and his wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, in Gorki.

In May 1922, Lenin fell ill. In December 1922, Lenin was sent to a hospital and he ceased his political career. 1922. Vladimir Lenin in Gorki.

In March 1923, Lenin became extremely ill. On January 21, 1924, he died after another stroke. A sarcophagus with Lenin’s embalmed body was installed in the Mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow. Photo: 1922. Vladimir Lenin in Gorki.