Gregory Goldenberg, the son of a Jewish merchant, was born in 1856. He moved to Kiev where he became involved in revolutionary politics.

Goldenberg was arrested in 1878 and exiled to Archangel. He escaped and joined the People's Will and in February, 1879 assassinated Prince Kropotkin at Kharkov.

Arrested in November, 1879, Goldenberg confessed to his involvement in the assassination and named several other members of the People's Will. Gregory Goldenberg committed suicide in prison in July, 1880.