Sergey Mikhalkov - the author of lyrics of the national anthems of the USSR and the Russian Federation, and a recognized classic of children's poetry.

Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov was born on February, 28th (on March, 13th) 1913 in Moscow into the family of Vladimir Akeksandrovich and Olga Mikhailovna (nee Glebova) Mikhalkovs.

At the age of 14 he had his first poem “The Road” published in a local journal in Rostov-on-Don. After finishing school he worked at a weaving factory and in a prospecting expedition.

In 1933 he became a freelance contributor of the Izvestia newspaper, and a member of the Moscow Committee of Writers (predecessor of the Union of Writers). During the Great Patriotic War Mikhalkov served as a newspaper correspondent and was awarded war orders and medals.

Sergey Mikhalkov wrote scripts for films and animated cartoon films. His scenario of The Girl from Leningrad (Frontovye podrugi) (1941) won the USSR State Prize in 1942. After the war Mikhalkov continued his literary activity as the author of plays for children's theatres, and scenarios for cartoon films.

In 1944 together with Gabriel El-Registan he won the national competition and became the co-author of the national anthem of the USSR. From the 1960s Sergey Mikhalkov was an active public figure in the field of the literature and took high state posts in the sphere literature and arts.

In 1977, after adoption of the new Constitution of the USSR, Sergey Mikhalkov created the second edition of hymn lyrics, having excluded the name of Stalin from it. In December, 2000 the President of Russia approved the present lyrics of the national anthem of Russia based on the poet’s verses.

Sergey Mikhalkov has two sons from his first marriage— Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky and Nikita Mikhalkov (both are well-known film directors) — and foster daughter Yekaterina (the widow of Yulian Semyonov).

Mikhalkov and his family quite often appear as characters of sharp epigrams and jokes.