Alexander Tormasov was born on 22 August 1752 into an old Russian noble family. At the age of ten, he entered service as a Page of Honour, then, aged 20 in 1772 he began military service as a lieutenant of the Vyatka infantry regiment. Within a few weeks he joined the staff of Yakov Bruce as aide-de-camp.
Alexander Tormasov was born on August 22, 1752, into an old Russian noble family. At ten years of age, he entered service and at twenty in 1772 began military service as a lieutenant in the Vyatka infantry regiment. Within a few weeks, he joined Yakov Bruce's staff.