Boris Mikhailovich Zhitkov was born on September 20 (October 3), 1872 in a noble family in the Mikhailovka Village of Ardatovsky Uezd of Simbirsk Governorate. Zhitkov’s grandfather participated in the Patriotic War of 1812, got injured in the Battle of Borodino, fought for the liberation of Europe, rose to the rank of Major General. His father was a military engineer, defended Sevastopol during the Crimean War, and was awarded state orders for bravery.