The influential political figure known for his leadership during the Russian Revolution is Vladimir Lenin. As the leader of the Bolshevik Party, Lenin played an integral role in the 1917 October Revolution, which overthrew the provisional government and established a communist state in Russia. His ideas on Marxism and socialism inspired radical changes in the political structure, focusing on the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat. Lenin's policies and leadership were pivotal in shaping the early Soviet Union, leaving a lasting legacy on global politics and communism.