Sverdlov, Yakov Mikhailovich (1885–1919)

Russian politician. He joined the Russian Social Democratic Workers' party in 1901, and worked from 1902–17, as a professional revolutionary in the Bolshevik organizations, always strictly following Lenin's policy. In 1913 he was co-opted onto the Bolshevik Central Committee. After the February Revolution of 1917, Sverdlov became the party's main organizer. Soon after the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks, he succeeded Lev Kamenev as chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets, and was thus titular head of the state. For a time, in 1918–19, Sverdlov, together with Stalin, was Lenin's closest collaborator.