Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern is a famous Russian navigator and an eminent scientist who made a huge contribution to Russian science. He devoted his life to the study of the vastness of the world's oceans. He participated in expeditions around the world and created many scientific works.
Since childhood, Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern dreamed of becoming a military sailor. And his dream was destined to come true. But, having served for a very short time on naval warships, he realized that his real vocation was to explore the vast and mysterious oceanic expanses.
Childhood and youth
The future famous navigator was born in 1770 in Reval in a family of Russianized German nobles. None of his family before him was associated with the sea. But it attracted Ivan from an early age. Therefore, when he turned 16, he, without hesitation, entered the naval cadet corps.
Due to the outbreak of war with the Swedes, young Kruzenshtern is released from him ahead of schedule with the rank of midshipman and takes part in sea battles. But all of them took place near the native Baltic shores, and even then the young man was drawn to distant sea voyages.
Having no other opportunity to fulfill his dream, Ivan Fedorovich in 1793 volunteered to serve in the British Navy. For six years he has been sailing the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans on British ships. It was at this time that the idea of the first round-the-world sea expedition was born to him.
World voyages and scientific activities
Returning to Russia, Kruzenshtern developed and presented a project for the creation of a sea route from the Baltic ports to Alaska. It is rejected at first. But then, when the question of a round-the-world expedition arises, Ivan Fedorovich is instructed to lead this business.
In 1801, the first Russian round-the-world expedition was equipped and set sail on two ships "Nadezhda" and "Neva" under the leadership of Kruzenshtern. However, it is impossible to call it just a round-the-world voyage. It lasted two and a half years and was of great scientific importance. During this time, it was possible to map many still undiscovered islands and clarify the coordinates of some unaccounted island lands. Also, 1000 kilometers of the coast of Sakhalin Island were investigated and the reason for the glow of the northern sea was found out.
After completing the round-the-world expedition, Kruzenshtern is engaged in scientific work. In 1809-1812, he published a three-volume essay "A Journey Around the World", which was translated into 7 European languages, and "Atlas of the Sea Traveler". In 1813, Ivan Fedorovich was elected a member of the largest European academies and scientific societies.
For a long time, Kruzenshtern was the director of the Naval Cadet Corps. At this educational institution, on his initiative, a higher officer class was created, which was later transformed into the Naval Academy. Due to his advanced age, he no longer participates in sea expeditions, but provides all kinds of support to famous sailors and travelers.
Kruzenshtern died on August 12, 1846.
