Golovnin V.M. - navigator, explorer

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Anatol
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Golovnin V.M. - navigator, explorer

Post by Anatol » Wed May 04, 2022 11:10 am

The name of the Russian navigator Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin is widely known. A bay in the Bering Sea, a strait between the islands of the Kuril ridge, a mountain and a cape on Novaya Zemlya are named after him. V.M. Golovnin made a significant contribution to science, did a lot to strengthen Russian fleet and rightfully takes its place of honor among prominent marine figures.

He was born 8 on April 1776 of the year in the village of Gulynki, Pronsk district (now it is Starozhilovsky district in the Ryazan region), in the family of a hereditary military. At the age of nine, Vasily Golovnin was left without parents. Four years later, relatives sent him to the Naval Cadet Corps. A fourteen-year-old cadet Golovnin participated in the Russian-Swedish war 1790 of the year. On the warship "Do not touch me", which was part of the squadron of Vice-Admiral Cruise, he distinguished himself in battles at Krasnogorsk and Vyborg. For bravery, Vasily Golovin was awarded a medal. Already in the corps, Golovnin stood out among his classmates with curiosity and knowledge. He gave all his free time to books.

In the 1793 year V.M. Golovnin graduated from the corps second in academic performance and received the title of midshipman. For several years he served on the ships of the squadron of the Baltic Fleet, took an active part in military campaigns against France 1798-1800's. At this time, the squadron was commanded by Vice-Admiral M.K. Makarov. He drew attention to the remarkable abilities of the young officer. According to his presentation in 1799, Golovnin was promoted to lieutenant. And after two years as one of the best officers of the Russian fleet as part of a group of volunteers, he was sent for an internship in England.

In England, V.M. Golovnin wrote his first scientific article “Comparative remarks on the current state of the Russian and English fleets,” which he forwarded to the Minister of Navy in Russia. Before leaving for his homeland, Golovnin set about compiling the book On Naval Signals for Day and Night Time, which he finished when he returned home. A quarter of a century, developed by Golovin, a compilation of signals used the Russian fleet.

Golovnin was awarded a valuable gift and a cash prize for his works. In 1807, Vasily Mikhailovich was appointed commander of the military sloop “Diana” under construction. It was a momentous year in stories of our fleet. Having completed a round-the-world voyage, Krusenstern and Lisyansky returned to Kronstadt. Golovnin was supposed to continue their initiative. He was assigned the task of doing geographical research and hydrographic work in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, during the voyage of "Diana" the international situation has become complicated. In 1807, there was a gap between Russia and the UK. Golovnin had no information about this. “Diana”, following her course to the Cape of Good Hope in the spring of 1808, went into one of the bays in the English Cape Colony, where the English military squadron was stationed. Despite the fact that the sloop "Diana" had a special permit from the British government to conduct scientific research, the British command decided to detain him, ostensibly until he received orders from his government. But there were months, and there was no indication. Golovnin developed a daring escape plan and began to prepare the crew for him. He scrupulously studied the direction and duration of the winds at the coastline and in the open ocean, accurately determined the time of exit from the bay.

On an overcast evening of 19 in May, 1809 of the year came down a strong squall of rain. Choosing a convenient moment, Golovnin ordered to put storm rails and chop off anchor ropes. The English squadron was alarmed, but it was too late. Russian went to the ocean. Ahead was freedom. “Thus,” wrote Golovnin, “our detention ended, or, more correctly, our arrest by the English at the Cape of Good Hope, which lasted one year and 25 days.” Despite all the difficulties and hardships, further voyage to the shores of Kamchatka went well.

Golovnin did a particularly great job on arrival at his destination - in Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka. He carefully studied the materials that his predecessors had gathered to study the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, and in particular the Kuril Ridge. After conducting his research, Golovnin determined that the Kuril ridge consists of 24 islands, and not 21, as previously thought, and at the same time compiled the most accurate map of the Kuril Islands. He set himself the task of exploring each island ridge. However, work was soon interrupted. Golovnin with a pair of accompanying officers and four sailors was illegally arrested by the Japanese during a trip to Kunashir Island.

Vasily Mikhailovich, being in captivity, remained a born traveler and explorer. He was well aware that few of the Europeans were in the Land of the Rising Sun. After all, Japan was then a mystery to Europe. Despite the difficult and sometimes unbearable conditions of captivity, not having ink and paper at hand, he keeps an unusual diary, which consisted of multi-colored threads of clothing of a certain length with knots, brings in his own observations about the lifestyle of the Japanese, their customs and customs. Later, using this diary, V.M. Golovnin wrote his beautiful notes “Captive to the Japanese,” translated into many languages and published in different countries of the world.

In the year 1814, after the spirit of more than years of captivity, V.M. Golovnin returned to Petersburg. For the difference in swimming, Vasily Mikhailovich was given the rank of captain of the 2 rank.

In 1816, Golovnin was elected an honorary member of the State Admiralty Department, and the following year he was appointed head of the forthcoming round-the-world expedition on the new sloop Kamchatka. The expedition was to deliver various cargoes to Kamchatka, and then make astronomical determinations of the coordinates of unexplored islands and describe the north-western part of the New World coast from 60 to 63 degrees north latitude. Golovnin with honor coped with the task.

Speaking about this voyage, it should be noted that such subsequently famous Russian navigators as F. Litke, F. Matyushkin and F. Wrangel took part in it. These were the worthy students of Golovnin, they continued the work of their mentor with honor, making a valuable contribution to Russian science. In 1819, Kamchatka anchored in Kronstadt. The following pages of Golovnin’s life are also worthy of attention. He especially distinguished himself after he was appointed in 1823 year as a general-commissar for the fleet. During this period, all the shipbuildings and coastal buildings of the Admiralty Department from Riga to Kamchatka, with the exception of the Black Sea ports, were under his jurisdiction.

And in this high post, duty of duty, honor and truth remained the law and the shield of V.M. Golovnin. Famous Russian historian of the fleet F.F. Veselago wrote: “Among his fellow-contemporaries, Golovin stood out for his deepest theoretical and practical knowledge of the sea, a broad, diversified education, a clear, bright mind and a broad public eye.”

The descriptions of the voyage on the "Diana" and "Kamchatka" also belong to Golovnin.
He was transferred from English work on shipwrecks Dunken, which he added information about the accidents of domestic courts, issued a treatise on the tactics of naval fleets and the rules for describing the coast. Some of these works were reprinted as early as the 20 century.

Being a progressive figure of his time, Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin was a member of the board of the Russian-American campaign, was a correspondent of the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences and at the same time a member of the Free Economic Society, as well as the Society of fans of literature, sciences and arts, was elected an honorary member of Kharkov University.
V. Golovnin died of cholera with the rank of Vice Admiral on June 29, 1831 in St. Petersburg.
See also: forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7710.
Russia. Dixon 1994.
Source: https://en.topwar.ru/76935-velikiy-more ... ovnin.html.
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