Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko (; ; 21 February 1859 – 24 January 1924) was a Russian statesman of Ukrainian origin. Known for his colorful language and conservative politics, he was the State Councillor and chamberlain of the Imperial family, Chairman of the State Duma and one of the leaders of the February Revolution of 1917, during which he headed the Provisional Committee of the State Duma. He was a key figure in the events that led to the abdication of Nicholas II of Russia on 15 March 1917. Life Rodzianko was born in the village of Popasne. He came from an old and rich noble family of Ukrainian origin and was educated at the Corps des Pages. From 1877 until 1882 he served in the Her Majesty's Regiment of the Cavalry of the Guard. In 1884 Rodzianko married Anna Nikolaevna Galitzine (1859-1929); the couple had three children. In 1885 he retired and lived on his estate in the Novgorod Oblast. He was appointed as Marshall of the Gentry. Rodzianko served as Kammerherr in 1899. In 1900 he was elected in Yekaterinoslav Governorate. From 1903 until 1905 he was editor of a newspaper, called "Herald Katerynoslav zemstvos." In 1906 he was elected for the Zemstvo as Provincial Zemstvo Executive. In 1905 Rodzianko had been one of the founders and leaders of the Octobrist party. He became a deputy in the Third Duma (1907), vice-president in 1909 and was elected Chairman on 22 March 1911 after the resignation of Aleksandr Guchkov, who was hated by the court as a "Young Turk." He then continued as the Chairman of the Fourth Duma from 15 November 1912 until its dissolution on 6 October 1917 (before the October Revolution). Chairman of the Fourth Duma Rodzianko thought the meeting between Grigory Rasputin and Emperor Nicholas II "marked the beginning of the decay of the Russian society and the loss of prestige of the throne and of the tsar himself." He gathered information on Rasputin and handed it to the Emperor. Rodzianko, who asked Rasputin to leave the capital, and Theofan of Poltava held Rasputin to be a Khlyst. "The emperor took no account of the report which nevertheless proved undoubtedly that Rasputin was not the holy man he claimed to be." On 21 February 1913, Rodzianko dismissed Rasputin from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in Saint Petersburg shortly before the celebration of the tercentenary of