Kanffmann

Kanffmann, CONSTANTINE VON, a Russian general of German (Holstein) descent, was born near Ivangorod in Russian Poland, on 3d May 1818. He entered the army as lieutenant of engineers in 1838, fought against the Circassians in the Caucasus, and especially distinguished himself at the siege of Kars in 1855. In 1867 he was appointed governor-general of Turkestan, and at once set himself to organise this province, then newly conquered; in 1868 he occupied Samarcand, and in 1873 conducted a successful campaign against Khiva. Through his energetic policy Russia became the predominating power in central Asia. General Kaufmann died on 16th May 1882 at Tashkend. See Boulger's Central Asian Portraits (1880).