Ivan Shestakov
| Ivan Alexeyevich Shestakov | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 26 April [O.S. 13 April] 1820 Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 3 December 1888 (aged 68) Sevastopol, Russian Empire |
| Occupation | admiral, statesman, writer |
Ivan Alexeyevich Shestakov (Russian: Ива́н Алексе́евич Шестако́в; 13 April 1820 – 3 December 1888) was a Russian naval officer, statesman, and writer.
Shestakov was born in the village of Syrokorenye in Smolensk Governorate to the Russian noble family of captain-lieutenant Alexey Antonovich Shestakov and Yevdokiya Ivanovna Khrapovitskaya. After finishing his studies at the Naval Cadet Corps (1830–1836), he 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. On 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 finished the hydrographic studies of the Black Sea on board the cutter Skory.
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 General-Admiral Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich. During the first years of the Crimean War Shestkov contributed to the drawing up 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 Christians during the massacres in Lebanon. 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.
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