# Lenin Vladimir I. Lenin (1870-1924), a Russian revolutionary leader of the early twentieth century, highly honored in the Soviet Union as the founder of the modern Soviet state. Lenin, a founder of the Bolshevik party, contributed much to the success of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Lenin held that a dedicated group of intellectuals had to spearhead the revolution. He became chief of government of the Soviet Union after the revolution and served until his death in 1924.