Vladimir Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was born in Simbirsk, Russia, in 1870.
* He was the son of a middle-class school inspector.
* Lenin studied law at the University of St. Petersburg, but was expelled for his political activities.
* He went into exile in Switzerland, where he became a leading figure in the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party.
* In 1917, Lenin led the Bolshevik Revolution, which overthrew the Russian monarchy.
* He became the first leader of the Soviet Union, and ruled until his death in 1924.
* Lenin's policies, known as Marxism-Leninism, had a profound impact on the course of history.
* He is considered one of the most important figures of the 20th century.