Thomas MacKenzie (Russian admiral)

Rear Admiral Sir Thomas MacKenzie (spring 1740 – 21 January [O.S. 10 January] 1786), also known as Foma Fomich Mekenzi (Фома Фомич Мекензи - Son of Thomas), was a Scottish-Russian rear admiral who founded the city of Sevastopol in service of the Russian Empire in 1783.

Of Scottish Catholic origin, he was born in the spring of 1740, two years after his parents' marriage. He was the son of another Thomas MacKenzie (Foma Kalinovich Mekenzi, Фома Калинович Мекензи -Son of Colin) who was also a rear admiral in the service of Russia. His mother Ann MacKenzie (née Young) was the granddaughter of Admiral Thomas Gordon, Governor of Kronstadt.

Mackenzie entered into the Russian Navy in 1765 with the rank of midshipman, initially serving in the Baltic Sea. Later, with a rank of captain lieutenant, he took part in a number of battles in the Russo-Turkish War (1768–74), including the Battle of Nauplia (1770). He was wounded in the Battle of Chesma, where he served under Scottish-born Admiral Samuel Greig and commanded a fireship which contributed to the destruction of the Turkish fleet. On 9 July 1771 he was awarded the Order of St. George Fourth class. For distinction in this battle he was also promoted to captain of the second rank (equivalent to commander). On 21 April 1777 he was promoted to captain of the first rank (equivalent to captain).

On 28 June 1782 he was promoted to captain of major-general rank, and on 1 January 1783 to rear admiral in the Black Sea fleet. With a squadron of nine frigates and some smaller ships, he wintered in the practically uninhabited bay of Akhtiar on the Crimean peninsula. He cleared the shore of forests and founded the city of Sevastopol on 14 June [O.S. 3 June] 1783.

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