Ivan Goremykin was born in Russia in 1839. A Russian lawyer with extreme conservative political views, Goremykin was a loyal supporter of Nicholas II and the autocracy. He served as interior minister (1895-99) before succeeding Sergi Witte as premier in 1906. However, as a strong opponent of political reform, he was in conflict with the First Duma and was soon forced to resign in July, 1906, and was replaced by Peter Stolypin.

Nicholas II appointed Goremykin as his prime minister in early 1914. As Goremykin was considered to be both reactionary and incompetent, this decision undermined the Tsar's authority. Goremykin was also seen as a close ally of Gregory Rasputin and this made him extremely unpopular with Russia's leading politicians.

Goremykin advised Nicholas II to close down the Fourth Duma. When Michael Rodzianko, the President of the Duma, heard the news he insisted that the Tsar sack him. Goremykin had now lost the support of Gregory Rasputin, who suggested that Boris Sturmer should now become prime minister. In February, 1916, Goremykin was replaced by Sturmer.

Goremykin was arrested during the February Revolution but Alexander Kerensky agreed that he should be allowed to retire to his estate in the Caucasus, where he was murdered by a mob after the October Revolution.