Vladimir Lenin, born in 1870 in Simbirsk, Russia, was a crucial figure in the establishment of the Soviet state and the introduction of communist ideology. As the leader of the Bolshevik party, he orchestrated the October Revolution of 1917 which led to the overthrow of the provisional government, and he significantly impacted Russian history by promoting the role of the working class in the revolution. Lenin's legacy includes the formation of the Soviet Union and his theories on imperialism and capitalism, shaping global political discourse well beyond his death.