Ivan Shestakov

Infobox Person
name = Ivan Alexeevich Shestakov


image_size = 160px
caption =
birth_date = OldStyleDate|26 April|1820|13 April
birth_place = near Smolensk, Russian Empire
death_date = OldStyleDate|16 December|1888|3 December
death_place = Sevastopol, Russian Empire
occupation = admiral, statesman, writer
spouse =

Ivan Alexeevich Shestakov ( _ru. Шестаков, Иван Алексеевич April 13, 1820 – December 3, 1888) was a Russian statesman, writer, and admiral (in 1888).

Early years

Ivan Alexeevich Shestakov was born in the village Sirokorenie of Smolensk Government in the Russian noble family of captain-lieutenant Alexey Antonovich Shestakov and Yevdokiya Ivanovna Khrapovitskaya. After studies at Naval Cadet Corps (1830–1836) served in the Black Sea Fleet. In 1837 Shestakov participated in the landing operation near Cape Konstantinovsky for which he was decorated with an order and promoted to the rank of midshipman. In 1838 he was on board the corvette "Ifigeniya", participated in the landing operation near Shanedho, and was decorated with an Order of St. Anna of 4th degree. In 1841 Shestakov returned to Sevastopol and participated in several battles against mountaineers. Ivan Shestakov was awarded with an Order of St. Stanislaus of 3rd degree. April 11, 1843 (Old Style) Admiral Mikhail Lazarev made him his aide-de-camp for two years and promoted him to the rank of lieutenant.

In 1847–1850 - he made the hydrographic studies of the Black Sea on board the cutter "Skoriy".

ervice in the Baltic Fleet

In 1850 and 1852-1854, Shestakov was sent to England to inspect the building of military ships ordered by the Russian government. Upon his return to Russia in February 1854, he was assigned to the steamship committee and promoted to the rank of 2-rank captain and transferred to the Baltic Fleet. Shestakov participated in the defense of Kronstadt during Crimean War on board frigate "Ryurik". May 21, 1855 he was appointed aide-de-camp of Grand Prince Admiral-General. During the first years of Crimean War, contributed to creation of plans for 75 screw gunboats and 17 screw corvettes. In 1856, he was promoted to the rank of captain (1st rank) and was sent on assignment to the United States of America to inspect the building of the 70-cannon screw frigate "General-Admiral", being the state-of-the-art at that time, with project and drawings produced personally by Shestakov. In 1859, frigate "General-Admiral" under command of Shestakov made a 12-day voyage through the ocean on board "General-Admiral", stopping in Cherbourg and finally arriving to Kronstadt. The successful mission was rewarded with an Order of St. Vladimir of 3rd degree. In 1860–1862 - commander of a squadron of Russian ships in Mediterranean Sea near the coastline of Syria to protect Christianity from Turkish fundamentalists. On April 23, 1861 he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral and was included into H.I.M.'s suite. Upon his return to Kronstadt, Shestakov was decorated with an Order of St. Stanislaus of 1st degree. On April 17, 1863 he was made assistant to Chief Commander of Kronstadt. In 1863–1864 - member of the Science and Shipbuilding Committee in Saint Petersburg.

Governor of Taganrog

Ivan Shestakov's civil service started in 1864. April 11, 1866 (Old Style) he was assigned to the post of the governor of Taganrog (1866–1868), still remaining within H.I.M.'s suite. Shestakov initiated the establishment of the first naval school in 1868 that opened later during governorship of Johan Hampus Furuhjelm in 1874. He planned to develop coastal trade on Azov Sea, promoting sales of Russian coal for steamers on Black Sea and Azov Sea; he tried to improve navigation on Azov Sea and Don River; introduced a brand new system of lighthouses in the shallow waters near Taganrog and along Azov Sea coast to replace old equipments. In Taganrog he introduced the new system of gas lighting throughout the city, establishing a new gas plant for this purpose. In 1883, considering his achievements, the citizens of Taganrog made Ivan Shestakov an honored citizen of Taganrog.

Minister of the Russian Navy

In 1868–1870- Governor of Vilno. In 1870 Ivan Shestakov gave his resignation, but in 1872 he served again as Naval Agent to Austria and Italy. In 1881 - President of the Shipbuilding Committee. In 1882 he was appointed Minister of the Russian Navy. Shestakov contributed a lot to rebirth of the Black Sea Fleet (1886) and strengthening the Baltic Fleet and Siberian Flotilla. He also introduced a new system of service for the naval officers and started a large-scale building of armored ships, as battleships and armored cruisers, such as Russian armoured cruiser Vladimir Monomakh, Russian armoured cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, Ekaterina II class battleships and Imperator Aleksandr II class battleships. In 1888, Ivan Shestakov was promoted to the rank of the Imperial Russian Navy admiral.

Ivan Shestakov died in Sevastopol on December 3, 1888. He was buried in Sevastopol in the Temple of Saint Vladimir.

Places named after Shestakov

* Shestakov Island in the Barents Sea, near Novaya Zemlya;
* Shestakovskiy Boulevard - a square in Taganrog named after Shestakov in 1885 during his visit as Minister of the Russian Navy to Taganrog; later the name changed to "Ukrainskiy".

Publications

Apart from being a great statesman, Ivan Shestakov was a recognized author. He published several articles under his real name and under penname "Excelsior" in the naval journal "Morskoy Sbornik" ("Морской Сборник") in 1850, 1854-1861, 1864 and 1871. Shestakov made a translation of a large volume of William James (naval historian) "The Naval History of Great Britain" into Russian language. In 1873 he published his book of memoirs under the title "The Half-century of Ordinary Life" ("Полвека обыкновеннй жизни"). His most famous book to this day is "Sailing Directions in the Black Sea" ("Лоция Черного моря").

External links and references

*
* "History of Taganrog" by Pavel Filevsky; Moscow, 1898