WINZEGORODE (Wintzingerode), Ferdinand Fedorovich (b. 26 February 1770, Allendorf, Hesse-Kassel—d. 30 June 1818, Wisbaden) was born to a prominent Hessian family. He studied at the Kassel Cadet Corps from 1778 to 1785 and began service in the Hessian Guard. However, he soon took a discharge and spent the next three years serving in the armies of various lesser German states. Winzegorode served in the Austrian army in Netherlands in 1790, and on the Rhine in 1792-1793 and again in 1795-1796. He entered Russian service with a rank of major in the Military Order Cuirassier Regiment on 19 June 1797. He became lieutenant colonel in the Life Guard Izmailovsk Regiment and adjutant to Grand Duke Constantine in early 1798, and was promoted to colonel on 5 June 1798.

On 14 February 1799, Winzegorode was allowed to leave the Russian service to take command of the Archduke Ferdinand’s Dragoon Regiment and participate in operations against the French. Winzegorode returned to Russia on 24 November 1801, and was appointed to the Quartemaster Section of the Imperial Retinue. He rose to major general and adjutant general on 24 April 1802. Between 28 May and 23 September 1803, he served as chef of the Odessa Hussar Regiment.

In early 1805, Winzegorode served on diplomatic mission to the Prussian Court and took part in the drafting of the Allied operational plan against France. During the 1805 Campaign, he served at the Russian headquarters and distinguished himself at Krems (Dürrenstein), for which he received the Order of St. George (3rd class, 20 May 1806). At Hollabrun (Schöngrabern), he and Prince Peter Bagration tricked Marshal Joachim Murat into a one-day armistice that helped General Mikhail Kutuzov rescue his army. Winzegorode fought at Austerlitz, but was held responsible for the defeattafter the battle was held responsible for defeat. He left the Russian service on 15 January 1807, and from 1807 to 1811 served in the Austrian army. In 1809, he distinguished himself at Aspern-Essling, where he was severly wounded. He was promoted to feldmarshal lieutenant on 5 June 1809, for his actions in the latter battle. He returned to the Russian army on 23 May 1812.

During the 1812 Campaign, Winzegorode led a partisan detachment in the Smolensk gubernia and covered the St. Petersburg route. For his actions, he received a promotion to lieutenant general on 18 September 1812, and the Order of St. Alexander of Neva on 21 October 1812. On 22 October, as the French withdrew from Moscow, Winzegorode entered the town with his adjutant to negotiate with the French and prevent them from destroying the Kremlin. The French detained him and Napoleon wanted to court martial him for treason, claiming Hessian Winzegorode was his subject (Hesse became part of the Confederation of the Rhine). However, as he was transported from Moscow, Winzegorode was rescued by the Cossacks near Radoshkevichi, between Minsk and Vilna. He assumed command of corps at Grodno and distinguished himself pursuing the retreating French forces. In 1813, he took part in the actions at Kalisch (Order of St. George, 2nd class, 14 February 1813), Lutzen (Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class, 3 May 1813), Gros Beeren, Dennewitz, and Leipzig for which he was promoted to general of cavalry on 20 October 1813.

In 1814, Winzegorode led a corps and fought at Soissons (Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class), Craonne, Laon, and St. Dizier. Later that year, he led the 2nd Independent Corps. After returning to Russia, he took command of the 2nd Cavalry Corps, with which he marched back to France during the Hundred Days in 1815.

After the war, Winzegorode took command of 2nd Corps (21 April 1816) and later of the Independent Lithuanian Corps on 7 July 1817. In May 1818, he traveled to Germany to recuperate from wounds but died at Wisbaden on 30 June 1818.