Felix Dzerzhinsky

1877- 1926

Founder, Russian Secret Service

Russian politician Felix Edmunovich Dzerzhinsky was of Polish noble descent. He was born on September 11 1877. In 1897 he was exiled to Siberia for political agitation and in 1905 fought in the first Russian Revolution. He was one of the leaders of the "second revolution" of 1917; following its successful completion, he organized the secret police, the forerunner of the KGB.

From 1924 to 1926, he headed the Supreme Economic Council and was elected to the Politburo in 1926.