Today is the birthday of the legendary general Samad bey Mehmandarov

On October 16, 1855, Samad bey Mehmandarov, General of Artillery of the Russian Imperial Army, military figure of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Soviet state, was born.

As BAKU.WS reminds, Samad bey Mehmandarov came from a noble Karabakh bey family.

Samad bey's father, Mirza Sadykh bey Mehmandarov, due to his service duties, moved from the city of Shusha to Lankaran in the early 1840s, where he held the position of Mugan Pristav of the Lankaran District Administration and held the rank of Titular Councillor.

Samad bey Mehmandarov was born in Lankaran. He received his primary education at the Baku Gymnasium. He began his military service on September 1, 1873, as a cadet at the 2nd Konstantinovsky Military School in Saint Petersburg. Upon graduating from the school in 1875, he was sent to the 1st Turkestan Artillery Brigade with the rank of ensign, where he commanded a mountain platoon of the 3rd battery. From November 1875 to February 1876, he participated in the campaign to the Kokand Khanate. On October 12, 1876, he was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus 3rd class "for the labors and hardships endured during the campaign against the Matcha highlanders." In December 1876, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant, and in December 1877 to lieutenant.

After the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, he was invited to serve in the country's government. On November 1, the Ministry of War was established by a resolution of the Council of Ministers.

The ministerial portfolio was given to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Fatali Khan Khoyski, and General of Artillery S. Mehmandarov was appointed as his assistant. On December 25, 1918, General of Artillery Mehmandarov was appointed Minister of War.

Under the direct leadership of S. Mehmandarov, the national army of Azerbaijan was formed. He held the position of Minister of War until the occupation of Azerbaijan by the XI Red Army on April 28, 1920.

He passed away in February 1931 in Baku.