Nikolay Gumilyov (1886–1921) was born in Kronstadt. At school he was taught by the Symbolist poet Innokenty Annensky. He spent time in Paris, travelled in Africa and married the poet Anna Akhmatova in 1910 after a long courtship. He joined a cavalry corps at the start of the First World War and was twice decorated for bravery. On August 3, 1921 he was arrested by the Soviet secret police for taking part in a monarchist conspiracy and was duly executed.