Mikhail Lazarev, navigator. Lazarev Mikhail Petrovich

For several decades there was an unspoken “Lazarev school” of sailors, which educated the heroes of Sinop, the defense of Sevastopol and the first creators of the steam fleet. Thanks to the efforts of M.P. Lazarev, noted for the glory of circumnavigation, discoveries and military operations, the sailing Black Sea Fleet reached its highest development by the beginning of the Crimean War.

Mikhail Lazarev was born on November 3, 1788 in the city of Vladimir. His father, senator, privy councilor Pyotr Gavrilovich Lazarev, was the ruler of the Vladimir governorship. After the death of his father, by imperial decree of January 25, 1800, the future naval commander and his brothers Alexei and Andrey were accepted into the Morskaya cadet corps. Hard classes in classes were combined with hikes in the Gulf of Finland. Already for their first voyage, Andrei and Mikhail Lazarev received a flattering assessment. Soon they noticed Mikhail’s ability and zeal in studying maritime affairs. After the exams on May 19, 1803, midshipman Mikhail Lazarev was among the first. After several months of cruising Baltic Sea He was one of the best midshipmen sent as a volunteer to England for naval practice. For 5 years the young sailor sailed in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Northern and Mediterranean seas, engaged in self-education, studied history and ethnography. Upon his return in 1808, he was promoted to midshipman. The young officer took part in the Russian-Swedish war, then, sailing on light ships, more than once showed dashingness and agility. In 1811, Lazarev became a lieutenant. In 1812, he served on the brig Phoenix and received a silver medal for valor in World War II.

Brilliant certifications made it possible to entrust the seaman with a responsible task. On October 9, 1813, the ship “Suvorov” left the Kronstadt port under a commercial flag, which was supposed to deliver cargo to Far East. Lazarev successfully completed the assignment, opened uninhabited islands Suvorov on Pacific Ocean. He purchased a shipment of quinine and other local goods from Peru. In addition, animals that were not available in Russia were taken on board. Having rounded Cape Horn, the ship returned to Kronstadt on July 15, 1816. During the circumnavigation of the world, the Suvorov sailors clarified the coordinates and surveyed sections of the coasts of Australia, Brazil, and North America.

On July 4, 1819, the sloops “Vostok” and “Mirny” (the latter commanded by Lazarev) left Kronstadt to search for lands near the South Pole. Having entered England and the island of Tenerife, the ships arrived across the Atlantic in Rio de Janeiro. From the coast of Brazil they headed south and in December reached the island of New Georgia, discovered by Cook. In the same area, sailors found and described several islands and found out that the land of Sandwich, so named by Cook, is in fact the archipelago of the South Sandwich Islands. The Russians approached the then unknown Antarctica. Many icebergs testified to the proximity of a vast land. On January 4, 1820, the expedition advanced half a degree further than Cook. Despite the ice and fog, on January 15, ships crossed the South for the first time. Arctic Circle, the next day they reached a latitude of 69 degrees 25 minutes. Several times the sailors tried to go further south, but everywhere they encountered solid ice. It was later established that on February 5 and 6, the expedition did not reach only three or four kilometers to the Princess Astrid Coast of the Antarctic continent. But so far this was not known. In addition to icebergs, the appearance of birds testified to the proximity of the coast.

After the onset of the southern winter, the expedition headed north. Sailors discovered several unknown islands in the Tuamotu archipelago. In November, the ships headed south again. Despite the difference in speed, they did not separate, except for those cases when the commanders intended to explore a wider strip of sea. A serious storm in mid-December did not interrupt the research. The ships crossed the Arctic Circle three times; on January 10, 1821, they advanced to 69 degrees 53 minutes south latitude, but met solid ice. F.F. Bellingshausen turned east, and soon the sailors discovered the island of Peter I, and on January 17, in clear weather, they saw land in the south, which they called Alexander Land. It was later established that it was part of Antarctica, connected to the mainland by the George VI ice shelf. Despite the fact that it was not possible to get closer to the ground than 40 miles, it was clearly visible highest mountain St. George the Victorious. Then the sailors, having sailed around the South Shetland Islands, established that the British mistakenly believed that this land discovered in 1819 by Captain Smith was part of the mainland.

Since the Vostok required repairs, the expedition, which explored the circumpolar region from all sides, went to Return trip and on July 24, 1821 arrived in Kronstadt. During the voyage, 29 islands were discovered, and 28 objects with Russian names were marked on the map of Antarctica. It became clear that there was a vast land around the South Pole, giving rise to a mass of icebergs. In honor of the circumnavigation of the world, a medal was minted and the participants were awarded. For the merits of M.P. Lazarev was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank through the rank.

On August 17, 1822, Lazarev with the frigate “Cruiser” and the sloop “Ladoga” set out from Kronstadt and delivered cargo to the Pacific ports of Russia. On August 5, 1824, Lazarev returned to Kronstadt on a frigate, completing the third circumnavigation. For a successful campaign, he was promoted to captain of the 1st rank and awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree.

On February 27, 1826, the sailor was appointed to command the 12-m fleet crew and the ship "Azov". He and his assistants completed the construction of the ship in Arkhangelsk, delving into every detail and making improvements to the design. This ship has long been a model for shipbuilders. On October 5, Lazarev brought the ships “Azov”, “Ezekiel” and the sloop “Smirny” to Kronstadt.

From May 21 to August 8, 1827, “Azov” was in the squadron of Admiral D.N. Senyavin, who moved to Portsmouth. Then the L.F. squadron was separated and sent to the Mediterranean Sea. Heyden. The commander of the flagship Azov was also the chief of staff of the squadron. IN Battle of Navarino On October 8, 1827, “Azov” played crucial, fighting a significant part of the Turkish fleet alone until the lagging ships arrived and destroying several Egyptian ships, including flagships. For the heroism shown in the battle, Lazarev was promoted to rear admiral and awarded orders on behalf of the English, French and Greek kings. Azov was the first to receive the stern St. George flag.

During Russian-Turkish war 1828-1829 Lazarev commanded a squadron, blockading the Dardanelles. The Emperor was pleased with him. On February 17, 1832, he appointed the rear admiral as chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet.

The first test of strength for the chief of staff was the organization of an expedition to the Bosporus. The Egyptian ruler Pasha Mehmet Ali in 1831 opposed the Sultan and moved an army to Constantinople. Having no help from Western countries, Porta turned to Russia. On January 14, 1833, Lazarev received the highest order to go with the squadron to Constantinople. Having equipped the already disarmed squadron in three weeks, on February 8, the rear admiral brought 4 ships, 3 frigates, a corvette and a brig to Buyuk-Dere. The frightened Sultan tried to force Lazarev to leave, but he held his position in the strait under various pretexts until two more squadrons with troops arrived. During their six-month stay, Russian sailors collected information about Constantinople and the straits. The threat of the Egyptian Pasha was eliminated, the Russian squadrons returned to their bases. Russia and Turkey signed the Unkiyar-Iskelesi Union Treaty, which established a navigation regime in the straits that was favorable for Russia. Lazarev's determination and diplomatic activity were appreciated: on April 2, 1833, he was promoted to vice admiral, on July 1, the flagship became adjutant general of the emperor, on August 2, he was appointed acting chief commander of the Black Sea Fleet and ports, and on December 31, 1834, he was confirmed in this position. positions.

When accepting the fleet, Lazarev noted its shortcomings. Nevertheless, A.S. Greig created the basis on which the fleet could be further developed. The new chief commander, as an energetic person and a good sailor, in 17 years at this base created sailing fleet, in terms of crew training and quality of ships, it is not inferior to the leading fleets of the world.

Back in 1834, Lazarev developed a plan to repel a possible British invasion of the Black Sea, which included landing troops on the Bosporus, and if the enemy breaks through the straits, destroying the enemy at sea or near Sevastopol. This required combat-ready ships. In collaboration with Chief of Staff V.A. Kornilov Lazarev worked on the requirements for the design and armament of warships. The fleet was equipped with modern vessels. The admiralty in Nikolaev, Novorossiysk was improved, the admiralty was built in Sevastopol, completed after the death of the admiral and named Lazarevsky. The construction of Sevastopol expanded. The reinforced hydrographic depot prepared maps and atlases of the Black and Azov Seas.

During the years of Lazarev's management, over 110 combat and auxiliary ships, including 17 linear and 8 steamships. Artillery, which used bombs instead of cannonballs, was widely adopted by the Black Sea Fleet, earlier than abroad. The sailor proposed using domestic coal from the future Donbass and established its advantage over imported coal.

In 1838-1840, Lazarev and his squadron organized landings on the shores of the Caucasus at Tuapse, Psezuap, Subashi, Shapsukho. They proceeded according to a clearly developed plan, which combined the actions of naval artillery, landing craft and troops. Before the landing, under the leadership of Lazarev, the headquarters prepared a set of documents that was becoming common (disposition of ships and frigates, order for landing, schedule of troops for rowing ships, disposition of rowing ships, order for the actions of rowing ships). For the first time, plans were developed for continuous fire support for landing troops. Sailors and troops were previously trained. Careful preparation made it possible to achieve success with small losses.

Was established close connection between sailors and the command of the ground forces. The practice of interaction between the fleet and the army continued later, playing its role in the defense of Sevastopol.

The landed troops created the Caucasian coastline, which, with the support of detachments cruising at sea, interrupted the smuggling of weapons to the mountaineers and contributed to ending the war in the mountains. One of the line’s fortifications was named Lazarevsky. The name remains on the map to this day.

The entire Caucasian coast was divided into sections and assigned to cruising detachments. Thanks to year-round patrols without entering bases, the sailors received excellent practice, which they did not have in the Baltic with its freezing ports.

For success in the development of the fleet M.P. Lazarev was awarded the highest orders, and on October 10, 1843 he was promoted to admiral.

The admiral's assistants were those sailors whom the flagship tested in battles and long voyages. Becoming admirals, the Lazarevites (Nakhimov, Kornilov and others) spread their knowledge, skill and unshakable sea spirit to all the ships of their squadrons. They made improvements to the design of ships, regulations and instructions. Among the leading officers are the Sevastopol Maritime Library and the sailing fleet, whose sailors demonstrated their training in long cruising off the Caucasus coast, in battles with the Turks and the defense of Sevastopol.

M.P. died Lazarev on April 11, 1851 from stomach cancer. The admiral was buried in the Vladimir Cathedral in Sevastopol. What remained after him was the Black Sea Fleet, one of the best in the world in terms of training. For many years, the Lazarev maritime school formed the basis for the education of sailors, and the famous “At home at sea” by S.O. Makarova stems from this.



Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:	Russian Empire, Vladimir
Date of death:
A place of death:	Austrian Empire, Vienna

Type of army:
	Admiral Adjutant General
Commanded:	Black Sea Fleet
Battles/wars:	Russian-Swedish War Patriotic War of 1812 Battle of Navarino

early years

Trip around the world

Journey to south pole

Service in the Black Sea Fleet

Addresses in St. Petersburg

In philately

In geographical objects

(November 3 (14), 1788, Vladimir - April 11 (23), 1851, Vienna, buried in Sevastopol) - Russian naval commander and navigator, admiral (1843), holder of the Order of St. George IV class for long service (1817), commander Black Sea Fleet and discoverer of Antarctica. Brother of Vice Admiral Andrei Petrovich Lazarev.

Biography

early years

Born into the noble family of Senator Pyotr Gavrilovich Lazarev, ruler of the Vladimir governorship. Shortly before his death, in 1800, the senator assigned three sons - Andrei, Mikhail, Alexei - to the Naval Cadet Corps. In 1803, he passed the exam for the title of midshipman, becoming the third best performer out of 32 students. In December 1805 he was promoted to the first officer rank - midshipman. Among 30 best graduates Corps was sent to England, where he served as a volunteer in the navy until 1808 to familiarize himself with the organization of naval affairs in foreign ports. For five years he was on a continuous voyage to Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In 1808-1813 he served in the Baltic Fleet. Participated in the Russian-Swedish War of 1808-1809 and the Patriotic War of 1812.

Trip around the world

In 1813, Lieutenant Lazarev received a new assignment - to command the sloop "Suvorov", setting off on a circumnavigation around the world. globe. The ship "Suvorov", to which Lazarev was assigned, belonged to the Russian-American company, created by Russian industrialists at the end of the 18th century. The company's goal is to improve the use natural resources Russian America. The company was extremely interested in regular sea communication between St. Petersburg and Russian America and spared no expense in equipping round-the-world expeditions. At the beginning of October 1813, preparations for the trip were completed, and at dawn on October 9, the Suvorov departed from the Kronstadt roadstead.

At the beginning of the journey they were met strong winds and thick fogs, from which the Suvorov had to take refuge in the Swedish harbor of Karlskrona. Having passed the Sound, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits (between Denmark and the Scandinavian Peninsula) and safely avoided the attack of the French and allied Danish warships, Lazarev safely brought the Su-thief to the English Channel.

In Portsmouth the ship made a stop that lasted for three whole months. On February 27, 1814, the Suvorov departed from the Portsmouth roadstead and headed south. Two weeks later, Lazarev’s ship was already approaching the island of Madeira, a Portuguese colony off the coast of Africa. On April 2, the Suvorov crossed the equator, and on the evening of April 21, it entered the Bay of Rio de Janeiro. On May 24, Suvorov left Rio de Janeiro and entered the Atlantic Ocean. On August 14, the Suvorov entered Port Jackson, which belonged to the British. When approaching the harbor, the Suvorov was greeted by the thunder of an artillery salute, with which the governor of the island greeted the Russian sailors on the occasion of the final victory over Napoleon. "Suvorov" sailed across the Pacific Ocean, again approaching the equator. On September 28, the outlines of land appeared ahead. However, on the map available to Lazarev, there were no signs of land, and only when approaching more close quarters and examining these places, Lazarev realized that in front of him was a group of coral islands rising above the surface of the ocean and connected by coral bridges. These islands were covered with bushes and trees. Lazarev gave the newly discovered islands the name Suvorov (Suvorov Atoll). Having completed the survey of the islands, "Suvorov" again continued its journey to the north. On October 10, the equator was crossed. In November, Lazarev’s ship approached the center of Russian America - the port and settlement of Novo-Arkhangelsk. Here Lazarev was met by the manager of the Russian-American company A. A. Baranov, who expressed gratitude to him for the safety of the cargo entrusted to him. For the winter, "Suvorov" remained in Novo-Arkhangelsk. After the end of the winter, “Suvorov” was loaded with food and goods, and by order of A. A. Baranov, Lazarev headed for one of the islands of the Aleutian group (Unalaska) and the Pribilof Islands located next to it. Having unloaded the cargo entrusted to him, he took on board furs prepared by local industrialists. Lazarev's ship was on the road for just over a month. The cargo taken on board in Unalaska was to be delivered to Kronstadt, having first returned to Novo-Arkhangelsk.

At the end of July, Suvorov left Novo-Arkhangelsk. Now his path to Kronstadt lay along the banks of the Northern and South America, around Cape Horn. Lazarev still had to make a stop in the Peruvian port of Callao to resolve a number of issues related to the affairs of the Russian-American company.

After calling at the port of San Francisco, the Suvorov moved to the shores of Peru. During the three-month stay in the port of Callao, Lazarev and his officers became acquainted with the life of the city and port.

Having passed through the Drake Passage in stormy weather and past the dangerous Cape Horn, Lazarev ordered to turn northeast into the Atlantic Ocean. He did not stop in Rio de Janeiro, but made only a short stop at the island of Fernando de Noronha. Here the damage caused by the storm was repaired on the Suvorov, and the ship sailed to the shores of England. On June 8 he was already in Portsmouth, and five weeks later he returned to Kronstadt.

Journey to the South Pole

In March 1819, Lazarev was assigned to command the sloop Mirny, which was to sail to the South Pole as part of Antarctic expedition. Lazarev took over direct supervision of all preparatory work.

On June 4, Captain 2nd Rank F.F. Bellingshausen arrived and was entrusted with both the command of the second sloop “Vostok” and the leadership of the entire expedition.

A month after his arrival, Vostok and Mirny left the Kronstadt roadstead and moved towards the South Pole.

"Mirny", built according to the design of Russian engineers and, moreover, sufficiently fortified by Lazarev, showed its brilliant qualities. However, the Vostok, built by British engineers, despite all Lazarev’s efforts to make it as durable as the Mirny, was still qualitatively inferior to the second sloop. This was one of the reasons that we had to stop exploring the South Pole and begin preparations for returning to Kronstadt. For his participation in the Antarctic expedition, Lazarev was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, bypassing the rank of captain-lieutenant.

Command of the frigate "Cruiser"

While Lazarev was on a polar expedition, the situation in the region of Russian America worsened. The actions of English and American smugglers were becoming increasingly widespread. Novo-Arkhangelsk was covered by the Apollo ship, the only military ship of the Russian-American company, but it could not ensure the security of all Russian territorial waters in this area. Therefore, it was decided to send the 36-gun frigate “Cruiser” and the sloop “Ladoga” to the shores of Russian America. Command of the frigate was entrusted to Lazarev, and command of the Ladoga was to him younger brother Andrey. On August 17, 1822, ships under the command of Lazarev left the Kronstadt roadstead. The expedition began in the conditions of severe storms, forcing Lazarev to make a stop in Portsmouth. Only in November did they manage to leave the harbor and head for the Canary Islands, and from there to the shores of Brazil. The voyage to Rio de Janeiro took place in extremely favorable conditions, but after sailing from the capital of Brazil, the elements raged again. A hurricane arose in the sea, and storms began, accompanied by snow. Only in mid-May did the Cruiser manage to approach Tasmania. Then Lazarev's frigate headed for Tahiti. In Tahiti, the "Cruiser" met with the "Ladoga", with which it separated during storms and now, in accordance with the instructions received earlier, each ship with the cargo entrusted to it sailed on its own course. "Ladoga" - to the Kamchatka Peninsula, "Cruiser" went to the shores of Russian America. The Cruiser spent about a year off the coast of northwestern America, protecting Russian territorial waters from smugglers. In the summer of 1824, the “Cruiser” was replaced by the sloop “Enterprise”, which arrived in Novo-Arkhangelsk under the command of Lieutenant Commander O. E. Kotzebue. On October 16, the “Cruiser” left Novo-Arkhangelsk. As soon as the “Cruiser” entered the open sea, the hurricane broke out again. However, Lazarev’s ship did not take refuge in San Francisco harbor, but withstood the storm on the open sea. On August 5, 1825, the “Cruiser” approached the Kronstadt roadstead. For exemplary performance of the task, Lazarev was promoted to captain of the 1st rank. But the captain of the “Cruiser” insisted that not only he and his officers receive awards, but also all the sailors of his ship, participants in the most difficult voyage.

Service in the Black Sea Fleet

On next year Lazarev was appointed commander of the 12th naval crew. He was entrusted with personal supervision of the construction of the warship Azov in Arkhangelsk. After completion of construction, Lazarev was appointed commander of the Azov, and after a detachment of ships moved from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt, a new assignment awaited him. Lazarev was transferred to the Black Sea and then to the Mediterranean Sea. Here in 1827, commanding the Azov, M.P. Lazarev took part in the Battle of Navarino. Fighting with five Turkish ships, he destroyed them: he sank two large frigates and one corvette, burned the flagship under the flag of Tagir Pasha, forced an 80-gun battleship to run aground, after which he lit and blew it up. In addition, the Azov, under the command of Lazarev, destroyed the flagship of Muharrem Bey.

For his participation in the Battle of Navarino, Lazarev was promoted to rear admiral and awarded three orders at once (Greek - "Commander's Cross of the Savior", English - Baths and French - St. Louis, and his ship "Azov" received the St. George flag.

In 1828-1829 he led the blockade of the Dardanelles; in 1830 he returned to Kronstadt and commanded a detachment of ships Baltic Fleet.

In 1832, Lazarev became chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet. In February - June 1833, commanding a squadron, he led the expedition of the Russian fleet to the Bosporus Strait, as a result of which the Unkyar-Iskelesi Treaty of 1833 was concluded. From 1833 - chief commander of the Black Sea Fleet and the ports of the Black Sea, and in the summer of 1834 - commander of the Black Sea Fleet and commander of the ports of Sevastopol and Nikolaev. That same year he was promoted to vice admiral.

Commanding the Black Sea Fleet, Lazarev became its true transformer. He introduced a completely new system of training sailors directly at sea in an environment as close as possible to combat.

The warships of the Black Sea Fleet were fully equipped and equipped with artillery more than High Quality. Under Lazarev, the Black Sea Fleet received more than 40 sailing ships. Lazarev also ordered 6 steam-frigates and 28 steamships for his fleet. The first iron steamship was built on the Black Sea and training began for service on steam ships.

However, Lazarev did not limit himself only to the technical re-equipment of the Black Sea Fleet. In Sevasto-Pole, the Maritime Library was reorganized, a Meeting House was built, and a school for sailor children was opened. Under Lazarev, admiralty buildings were built in Nikolaev, Odessa, Novorossiysk, and construction of the admiralty began in Sevastopol.

Using his experience gained on long voyages, Lazarev established the work of a hydrographic depot, which began to publish maps and atlases of the Black Sea. Lazarev’s services to Russian science were also appreciated by the Russian Geographical Society, electing him as an honorary member. He was also elected an honorary member of the Marine Scientific Committee, Kazan University and other scientific institutions.

Lazarev’s special merit is in training people who glorified the Russian fleet and Russia during the Crimean (Eastern) War of 1853-1856. Admiral Lazarev enjoyed influence as Technical Specialist and mentor to young officers. He advocated for the equipment Russian fleet steam-powered ships, but the technical and economic backwardness of Russia at that time was the main obstacle on this path. He also acted as a mentor to such famous Russian naval commanders as Nakhimov, Kornilov, Istomin and Butakov.

Shortly before his death, on his last visit to St. Petersburg, the admiral was at a reception with Nicholas I. After the warm welcome, wanting to show the admiral his attention and respect, the sovereign said: “Old man, stay with me for dinner.” “I can’t, sir,” answered Mikhail Petrovich, “I gave my word to dine with Admiral G.” Having said this, Lazarev took out his chronometer, looked at it and, standing up impulsively, said: “I’m late, sir!” Then he kissed the puzzled emperor and quickly left the office...

In Vienna, Admiral Lazarev's illness worsened sharply. There was no hope left to save his life. Those around the admiral begged him to write a letter to the sovereign and entrust his family to him. “I have never asked anyone for anything in my life,” answered the dying Lazarev, “and now I will not ask before my death.”

He was buried in the crypt of the Vladimir Cathedral in Sevastopol (at that moment the construction of which had just begun). His students and followers, admirals Nakhimov, Kornilov, Istomin, are also buried there.

Addresses in St. Petersburg

1813-1827 - Kronstadt, Galkina street (current Proletarskaya), 30.

Perpetuating the memory of M. P. Lazarev

In 1867, a monument to Mikhail Lazarev was erected in Sevastopol.
On September 12, 1996, a monument to one of the founders of the city, Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, was unveiled in Novorossiysk.
In Novorossiysk, a monument was erected to the founders of the city M. P. Lazarev, N. N. Raevsky and L. M. Serebryakov.
At the Lazarevskaya railway station (Lazarevsky district of Sochi) a bust of Admiral Lazarev was erected.
In Veliky Novgorod on the Monument “1000th Anniversary of Russia” among 129 figures of the most outstanding personalities V Russian history(for 1862) there is a figure of M.P. Lazarev.
In St. Petersburg, the first Russian battleship Admiral Lazarev was launched at the Baltic Shipyard in 1871.
In 1994, the Bank of Russia issued a series of commemorative coins “The First Russian Antarctic Expedition”.

In philately

In geographical objects

Currently, the following are named in honor of Lazarev:

district of the city of Sochi - Lazarevskoye;
an atoll in the Russian Islands group in the Pacific Ocean;
island in the Aral Sea;
capes:

in the Amur Estuary;
in the northern part of the island. Unimak;

bay and port in the Sea of Japan;
bay in the Southern Ocean;
mountain range in Antarctica;
Lazarev Ice Shelf;
two Antarctic stations:

Lazarev;
Novolazarevskaya;

trench in Antarctica;
street in the area South Butovo Moscow;
street in Lipetsk;
Lazarev Square in Sevastopol and Vladimir;
Lazarev Street in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi;
Admiral Lazarev Embankment in St. Petersburg;
Lazarevsky Lane in Kronstadt.

(1877-1851)

Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, a famous navigator, an outstanding Russian naval commander and the creator of an advanced naval school, who, together with F. F. Bellingshausen, discovered Antarctica, was born on November 14, 1788 in the Vladimir province. At the age of 12 he was sent to Marine Corps, shortly before transferred from Kronstadt to St. Petersburg. At the same time, his older brother Andrei and younger brother Alexei studied in the building with him. In 1803 M.P. Lazarev was promoted to midshipman. Due to the lack at that time of the opportunity to send midshipmen on long overseas voyages on warships, M.P. Lazarev, among the most capable graduates of the corps, was sent in 1804 to ships of the English fleet for practical learning naval affairs. M.P. Lazarev spent five years in the English fleet, continuously sailing in the West Indies and the Atlantic Ocean, and took part in hostilities against the French; There is information that he also visited the East Indies and China.

Returning to Russia in 1808, he was promoted to the first officer rank of midshipman. During his overseas voyages, M.P. Lazarev acquired extensive practical and combat experience.

From 1808 to 1813, M. P. Lazarev sailed on various ships of the Baltic Fleet, participated in the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1811, he was promoted to lieutenant. By this time, M.P. Lazarev stood out noticeably among the officers around him and had earned a reputation as an experienced sailor. In view of this, when the Russian-American Company, which at that time was implementing an extensive program for the economic development of Russian possessions in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean (Alaska and the Aleutian Islands), turned to the Navy Ministry with a request to appoint an experienced officer to command the new ship Suvorov on a circumnavigation of the world ", the choice fell on M. P. Lazarev. "Suvorov" was intended to deliver various cargoes to Alaska, and from there remove furs. M.P. Lazarev, who had long dreamed of long voyages, willingly accepted this offer.

The voyage of "Suvorov" was the third among many dozens of Russian trips around the world (after famous campaigns and on the ships "Nadezhda" and "Neva" in 1803-1806. and on the sloop "Diana" in 1807-1809). The Suvorov campaign also took place in war time. This shows how much responsibility lay on the very young 25-year-old ship commander, who was holding such a position for the first time. The voyage was further complicated by the fact that the Suvorov was not a warship and was even partially staffed by civilian, poorly disciplined personnel.

However, M.P. Lazarev managed to turn the voyage, designed only for the transportation of goods, almost into a scientific expedition. Leaving Kronstadt on November 21, 1813 and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, he did something important in the Pacific Ocean geographical discovery: On October 10, 1814, he discovered a group of five previously unknown islands, which he named after his ship - the Suvorov group. On November 30, “Suvorov” arrived in Sitka (Novo-Arkhangelsk). From here, in the spring of 1815, "Suvorov" went for fur trade in the Bering Sea to the Pribilof Islands. In the summer of the same year, major disagreements arose between M.P. Lazarev and the main ruler of Russian settlements on the northwestern shores of America, A.A. Baranov, due to the fact that the latter wanted to illegally assign unforeseen assignments to the commander of the Suvorov ship. When Baranov ordered the unarmed ship to come under fire from the coastal fortifications, M.P. Lazarev decided to leave Sitka and, having prepared his ship for the trip in one night, despite the firing of the battery, left the harbor on August 4, 1815 and headed back to the Motherland around Cape Horn. On August 6, 1816, M.P. Lazarev arrived in Kronstadt, having successfully completed a long journey. This voyage clearly revealed the determination and energy of M. P. Lazarev, his excellent knowledge of maritime affairs, his ability to deal with subordinates and earn their unconditional trust. After returning, M.P. Lazarev presented his report to the company, the examination of which showed that he was right. In 1817-1819 M.P. Lazarev again sailed on warships of the Baltic Fleet, enjoying universal respect. This is how M.P. Lazarev was regarded by his contemporaries at that time: “Everyone gave full justice to Lieutenant Lazarev’s excellent knowledge of the naval sector; he was considered one of the first officers in our fleet, and he really was, possessing to a high degree all the qualities necessary for this.”

When in 1819 the Naval Ministry selected personnel for the ships of the first Russian Antarctic expedition, it was quite natural that the choice fell on M.P. Lazarev. He was appointed commander of the sloop Mirny. This choice turned out to be extremely successful. Already in preparation period M.P. Lazarev with great skill took a number of measures, as a result of which former transport"Ladoga", intended during construction for use in the Baltic Sea, turned into the sloop "Mirny", which withstood the difficult long navigation in the ice better than the larger sloop "Vostok". Thanks to the stewardship of M.P. Lazarev, the Mirny was equipped with a second skin, additional hull fastenings, a new spar and sails, and an oak rudder instead of a pine one; In addition, according to the commander’s instructions, internal alterations were made at Mirny. The rowing vessels for both sloops were built according to the drawings chosen by M. P. Lazarev. The head of the expedition, F. F. Bellingshausen, highly appreciated his closest assistant and comrade. In his reports and descriptions of the voyage, he repeatedly emphasized M.P. Lazarev’s exceptional skill in sailing, which made it possible for the slow-moving sloop “Mirny” to follow the faster sloop “Vostok” all the time. During this voyage, M.P. Lazarev clearly demonstrated his excellent qualities as a commander and educator of young officers; midshipman N.I. Novosilsky, who sailed on the sloop “Mirny”, whose commander came to the aid of difficult maneuvering among the floating ice, figuratively tells about this: “ Every second brought us closer to the icy mass flashing terribly from behind the fog... At that very moment M.P. Lazarev entered the deck. In an instant I explained to the boss what was going on and asked for orders. Wait, he said coolly. As I look at Mikhail Petrovich now: he then fully realized the ideal of a naval officer who possessed all the perfections. With complete self-confidence, he quickly looked forward and his gaze seemed to cut through the fog and cloudiness... Get down! he said calmly."

M.P. Lazarev treated participation in the expedition with extreme responsibility and made every effort to highly raise the authority of his Motherland and win its glory.

In presenting M. P. Lazarev for the award, F. F. Bellingshausen wrote to the Minister of the Navy: “During the entire time of our voyage, in continuous fog, gloom and snow, among the ice, the sloop “Mirny” always remained in connection, which to this day has not been seen before, so that ships sailing for such a long time in such weather would not be separated, and Therefore, I make it my duty to introduce you to such vigilant vigil of Lieutenant Lazarev.” Bellingshausen named one of the islands of the Russian Archipelago after Lazarev.

During the voyage M.P. Lazarev took an active part in scientific work expeditions: he was personally engaged in astronomical observations, measured the height of mountain peaks, made oceanographic observations, and his measurements are of exceptional accuracy (for example, the height of Mount Egmont in New Zealand measured by him with a sextant differs from modern measurements made by more advanced methods by less than 9 m). M.P. Lazarev for a month (from March 16 to April 15, 1820), when both sloops were heading separately from the Antarctic region to Sydney, he walked completely independently, and despite the slowness of his ship and the complete absence of any communication between the two sloops , arrived at this port only 6 days later than the head of the expedition.

Upon returning from the expedition, M.P. Lazarev was promoted, bypassing the next rank, to captain of the 2nd rank.

M.P. Lazarev, however, did not sit on the shore for long: a year later, in 1822, we see him again on the deck of the ship - now in the position of chief round the world expedition and the commander of the frigate "Cruiser"; The second ship in the expedition was the sloop Ladoga, commanded by his brother Andrei Petrovich Lazarev.

M.P. Lazarev was one of the very few Russian officers who completed three round-the-world voyages, and the only one who circumnavigated the globe three times as a ship commander. The purpose of the expedition was to deliver various cargoes to Kamchatka and the Russian colonies in North America, and the frigate "Cruiser" was to change the station in Sitka (Novo-Arkhangelsk). The expedition left Kronstadt on August 30, 1822 and headed along the route: Rio de Janeiro (with a short visit to Copenhagen, Portsmouth and the island of Tenerife) - Cape of Good Hope - Tasmania - Tahiti; then the path of both ships split; The “Cruiser” went to Sitka (Novo-Arkhangelsk), and the “Ladoga” went to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. On November 20, 1823, both ships connected at Sitka, after which they headed for the shores of California. In San Francisco, the expedition was again divided: the sloop "Ladoga" headed back to Russia, and the frigate "Cruiser" remained as a stationer in Sitka until October 28, 1824, when it was replaced by the sloop "Enterprise" under the command of O. E. Kotzebue, and headed back. On September 5, 1825, three years after departure, the frigate “Cruiser” returned to Kronstadt in such brilliant order that everyone looked at it as an unattainable example. On the “Cruiser” a friendship arose between two outstanding sailors Lazarev and Nakhimov, who was then with the rank of midshipman. Here on the “Cruiser” new methods of training personnel were outlined, the beginning of the famous “Lazarev school” was laid, which gave the Russian navy a whole galaxy of brilliant sailors and combat commanders. On the “Cruiser” with M.P. Lazarev we went on a circumnavigation and former companions his Antarctic expedition on the sloop “Mirny” was led by lieutenants M.D. Annenkov and I.A. Kupriyanov, and the first of them later followed M.P. Lazarev to the ship “Azov”, as usual in his voyages. M.P. Lazarev paid a lot of attention to hydrographic issues on the “Cruiser”, specifying on the map the location of islands, capes and other noticeable points, as well as the position of the coastline. M.P. Lazarev set up systematic hydrometeorological observations on his ship, which were carried out under his leadership by officers of the frigate “Cruiser” and which were carried out so well that 60 years later in 1882 the Russian Maritime Ministry ordered their publication (Meteorological observations carried out during the circumnavigation of the frigate "Cruiser", under the command of captain 2nd rank Lazarev 1st in 1822-1823-1824-1825 St. Petersburg 1882).

This third trip around the world ends his long voyages. After returning from the voyage, M.P. Lazarev was promoted to captain of the 1st rank.

His geographical achievements for all three circumnavigations of the world were subsequently highly appreciated by the Russian Geographical Society, which elected M. P. Lazarev as an honorary member in 1851, the first among Russian sailors.

The name of M. P. Lazarev, along with the name of F. F. Bellingshausen, is mentioned in the memorandum of the Soviet government dated June 7, 1950 on the issue of the regime in Antarctica, which emphasizes the priority of Russian navigators in the discovery of this sixth part of the world.

After returning from his third circumnavigation of the world, M.P. Lazarev was appointed commander of the best and newest battleship "Azov", which was built in Arkhangelsk using new methods by the famous Russian naval engineer Kurochkin. On the Azov he made the transition from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt, and a year later, in 1827, he was sent as part of Rear Admiral Heyden’s squadron to the shores of Greece. Here M.P. Lazarev, as the commander of the Azov and at the same time the chief of staff of the squadron, especially distinguished himself by his courage, management and skillful maneuvering in the Battle of Navarino, in which the Russian squadron, fighting against the Turkish fleet along with the English and French squadrons, bore the brunt. Throughout the battle, under severe enemy fire, fighting simultaneously with five Turkish ships, Heyden and M.P. Lazarev calmly walked along the Azov’s quarterdeck, giving the necessary orders. Behind military merits M.P. Lazarev was promoted to rear admiral.

Sailed on the Azov with M.P. Lazarev best representatives his naval school - the future famous admirals Nakhimov, Kornilov and Istomin. For the first time in the history of the Russian fleet, the ship of M.P. Lazarev was awarded the highest military distinction - the stern St. George flag. In a letter to his friend, the future famous hydrograph M. F. Reinecke, written immediately after the Battle of Navarino, the senior officer of the ship "Azov", the future famous naval commander P. S. Nakhimov characterizes his commander and teacher with the following enthusiastic review: “We need him look during the battle with what prudence, with what composure he gave orders everywhere. But I don’t have enough words to describe all his commendable deeds, and I am confidently confident that the Russian fleet did not have such a captain.”

From 1828 to 1829, M.P. Lazarev had his own flag on the same ship “Azov” and, while continuing to serve as chief of staff of the Mediterranean squadron, cruised to the Aegean Sea and participated in the blockade of the Dardanelles, which represented winter time significant difficulties. At the end of 1829, M.P. Lazarev was first appointed commander of the squadron and received a difficult assignment: to lead this squadron from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea by May 1, 1830, avoiding calls at foreign ports. He carried out this assignment brilliantly, despite the presence of ice in the Gulf of Finland that season.

During 1830-1832 M.P. Lazarev commanded detachments of ships in the Baltic Sea and in the Gulf of Bothnia, participated in various committees and commissions dealing with issues of fleet transformation, including the development of new regulations on the Black Sea Fleet.

All subsequent activities of M. P. Lazarev are devoted to the further development of Russian naval art, based on the tradition of the great Russian naval commanders Ushakov and Senyavin, to the education of personnel and organizational and administrative activities on a wide national scale to strengthen the defense capability of their homeland on its Black Sea borders.

During this period, the Russian government was forced to pay special attention to increasing the combat capability of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which was supposed to be in constant combat readiness to repel Anglo-French forces in the event of their breakthrough into the Black Sea and assist the Russian army in the fight against Turkish troops in the Balkans, and also to support Russian troops in the Caucasus. To reorganize the Black Sea Fleet, M.P. Lazarev was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet in 1832, first to the position of chief of staff, and already in 1833 he was promoted to vice admiral, appointed to correct the position of chief commander of the Black Sea Fleet and ports, as well as Nikolaev and Sevastopol military governor. In 1834, he was confirmed in the listed positions. In 1843 M.P. Lazarev was promoted to admiral.

Here, on the southern borders of our Motherland, the energetic activity of M. P. Lazarev as a naval commander, educator of personnel, builder of the fleet, ports and fortresses developed widely. For nineteen years he stood at the head of the Black Sea Fleet and brought it to a brilliant state.

During this time, the Admiralty was expanded in Nikolaev and was compiled grandiose project development of the Admiralty in Sevastopol and its implementation began (completed after the death of M.P. Lazarev). The Admiralty was named after him. As usual, M.P. Lazarev also dealt a lot with geographical issues: on his instructions, young officers - future outstanding admirals Butakov and Shestakov compiled the first Russian navigational chart of the Black Sea, and in Nikolaev the compilation, engraving and printing of beautiful nautical charts of the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean were organized mari, which formed an entire atlas.

This period in the history of the Black Sea Fleet is usually called the “Lazarev era”. Relying on best officers of his school, M.P. Lazarev prepared the Black Sea Theater, ship and personnel for Crimean War 1853-1855

The fleet under him was on constant voyages to different conditions weather, systematically annually trained in maneuvering and shooting and in its combat training surpassed the fleets of foreign countries.

M.P. Lazarev in Nikolaev and Sevastopol also worked hard to create cultural living conditions for officers and sailors. His favorite creation was the Sevastopol Maritime Library. Among his closest students and successors of the best combat traditions of the Russian fleet, we see the names of Nakhimov, Kornilov, Istomin, Butakov, Popov.

At the beginning of 1851, M.P. Lazarev became seriously ill and was sent abroad to cure the disease. On April 23, 1851, he died in Vienna. He was buried in Sevastopol. In honor of M.P. Lazarev, a monument was erected in his beloved Sevastopol (designed by the famous sculptor N.S. Pimenov), towering over the “Lazarevsky Admiralty” created by him.

Bibliography

Shwede E. E. Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev / E. E. Shvede // People of Russian Science. Essays on prominent figures natural sciences and technology. Geology and geography. – Moscow: State Publishing House of Physical and Mathematical Literature, 1962. – P. 432-438.

Fate itself, long before birth, predetermined him to become a sailor, admiral, famous traveler, one of the discoverers of Antarctica.

Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, a native of a high-born noble family, entered the Naval Cadet Corps at the age of 12, and since then his life has been connected exclusively with the sea, exciting travels and bloody naval battles.

Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev was born on November 14, 1788 in Vladimir into the noble family of Senator Pyotr Gavrilovich Lazarev, ruler of the Vladimir governorship. In 1800, shortly before his death, as if feeling it, the senator assigned all three of his sons - Andrei, Mikhail and Alexei - to the Naval Cadet Corps.

In those days, there was no need to worry too much about the future of those noble teenagers who ended up in the corps. If a high-born youth was capable of learning and disciplined, any of them could count on successful military career. This is exactly what happened with the Lazarev brothers - they all achieved considerable heights in their careers.

As they say historical chronicles In 1803, Mikhail very successfully passed the exam for the title of midshipman, becoming the third best performer out of 32 students. Already in December 1805, he was promoted to the first officer rank - midshipman - without any problems. You can’t even say that he was lucky when, among the 30 best graduates of the corps, he was sent to study in England - this “business trip” was honestly deserved by him impeccable service and an incredible thirst for knowledge.

In England, he served as a volunteer in the navy for several years to familiarize himself with the organization of naval affairs in foreign ports. And, most importantly, for five whole years Midshipman Mikhail Lazarev was continuously sailing in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

He took part in the Russian-Swedish War of 1808-1809 and the Patriotic War of 1812. The young officer showed himself not only as a competent specialist, but also as a heroic warrior. Successful participation in these wars further helped him in his rapid career advancement.

And already in 1813, Lieutenant Lazarev received a new prestigious appointment - to command the Suvorov sloop, setting off on a circumnavigation around the globe. In those days not only Russian emperors(with very rare exceptions) contributed to the development of Russian navigation on various oceans, but also commercial companies (again with the approval of the autocrats).

The ship "Suvorov", to which Lazarev was assigned, belonged to the famous Russian-American company, created by Russian industrialists at the end of the 18th century. According to historians, the company set its goal to improve the use of the natural resources of Russian America. The company clearly did not spare funds for the development of regular communication between St. Petersburg and America, and Lazarev’s expedition was provided excellently.

On October 9, 1813, "Suvorov" departed from the Kronstadt roadstead. This, of course, was not the first round-the-world voyage of Russian navigators, but scientists admit that this particular expedition, led by the young lieutenant Mikhail Lazarev, was perhaps the most “knowledge-intensive” at that time.

"Suvorov" successfully crossed the equator, visited Rio de Janeiro and a number of other ports. In the English Port Jackson, when approaching the harbor, the Suvorov was greeted by the thunder of an artillery salute, with which the local governor greeted the Russian sailors on the occasion final victory Russia over Napoleon.

Having entered the Pacific Ocean, a few weeks later Lazarev’s crew unexpectedly saw land where, according to the then geographic maps it couldn't be. Lazarev gave the newly discovered islands the name Suvorov (Suvorov Atoll).

Finally, Lazarev’s ship approached the center of Russian America - the port and settlement of Novo-Arkhangelsk. Here Lazarev was met by the famous (remember the musical “Juno and Avos”) manager of the Russian-American company Alexander Andreevich Baranov, who expressed gratitude to him for the safety of the cargo entrusted to him.

For several months, at the command of Baranov, the Suvorov, under the command of Lazarev, cruised between the Aleutian Islands and the mainland, providing Russian settlements with everything they needed. He returned to Kronstadt, passing along the coasts of North and South America, around Cape Horn and further across the Atlantic, along the way resolving issues of the Russian-American Company in different ports.

Finally, in March 1819, Lazarev received the main assignment of his life - to command the Mirny sloop, which was to sail to the South Pole as part of an Antarctic expedition. Lazarev took over direct supervision of all preparatory work.

The second ship that was going to Antarctica was the sloop “Vostok” under the command of the legendary captain 2nd rank Thaddeus Bellingshausen. He also led the entire expedition, the likes of which had never been seen in the Russian fleet.

On January 16, 1820, the ships of Bellingshausen and Lazarev in the area of the present-day Princess Martha Coast approached an unknown “ice continent”. This day marks the discovery of Antarctica. They crossed the Antarctic Circle three more times, and in early February they again approached Antarctica near the present-day Princess Astrid Coast, but due to snowy weather they were unable to get a good look at it.

In March, when navigation off the coast of the mainland became impossible due to the accumulation of ice, the ships separated by agreement to meet in the port of Jackson (now Sydney). Bellingshausen and Lazarev went there by different routes. Precise surveys of the Tuamotu archipelago were carried out, and a number of inhabited atolls were discovered, including the Russian Islands.

In November 1820, the ships headed for Antarctica for the second time, rounding it from the Pacific Ocean. The islands of Shishkov, Mordvinov, Peter I, and Land of Alexander I were discovered. On January 30, when it became clear that the sloop "Vostok" had leaked, Bellingshausen turned north and, via Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon, arrived in Kronstadt on July 24, 1821. The expedition members spent 751 days at sea and covered more than 92 thousand kilometers. 29 islands and one coral reef were discovered.

"Mirny", built according to the design of Russian engineers and, moreover, sufficiently fortified by Lazarev, showed its brilliant qualities. However, the Vostok, built by British engineers, despite all Bellingshausen’s efforts to make it as durable as the Mirny, was still qualitatively inferior to the second sloop. This was one of the reasons that we had to stop exploring the South Pole and begin preparations for returning to Kronstadt. At home, travelers were greeted as heroes. Yes, they were heroes - real sea wolves who opened the sixth continent to the world!

By the way, many historians have been asking questions for the second century: why, in fact, were Russian sailors the discoverers of Antarctica? Why were they the first, since the famous Captain Cook sailed in these places much earlier?

Some historians give the following explanation for this phenomenon: it’s all because the Englishman James Cook, heading south, encountered a lot of ice on his way, which forced him to turn back. After that, he declared that in the south there was nothing but ice, and sailing in these latitudes was generally useless - it was just a waste of time. The authority of the navigator was so high that for 45 years no one even thought of looking for any land in the south. Russian sailors became the first...

Of course, the discovery of Antarctica became the main thing in the life of Mikhail Lazarev. After this, so to speak, geographical feat, he sailed for a long time on various ships and vessels in the region of Russian America and Oceania, served as commander of combat frigates on the Black Sea, heroically participated in the Battle of Navarino, and became an admiral.

Under his leadership, the Maritime Library was reorganized in Sevastopol, a Meeting House was built, and a school for sailor children was opened. Under Lazarev, admiralty buildings were built in Nikolaev, Odessa, Novorossiysk, and construction of the admiralty began in Sevastopol. Geographical Society elected him as an honorary member. He was also elected an honorary member of the Marine Scientific Committee, Kazan University and other scientific institutions. He acted as a mentor to such famous Russian naval commanders as Nakhimov, Kornilov, Istomin and Butakov...

He died in Vienna in 1851, but his body was transported to Sevastopol, where his grave is still there, to which grateful descendants still come...

LAZAREV, MIKHAIL PETROVICH(1788–1851) - Russian admiral, traveler, participant in three circumnavigations, governor of Sevastopol and Nikolaev.

Born on November 3, 1788 in Vladimir in the family of a governor, senator, Privy Councilor P.G. Lazarev. Having been orphaned early, in 1800 he was assigned to the Naval Cadet Corps, which he graduated with a flattering assessment: “Noble behavior, knowledgeable in his position; sends it with tireless diligence and efficiency.” After the 1803 exams, he served on a cruiser with the rank of midshipman; I rode it around the Baltic. Having gone to England as a volunteer, he studied there for five years maritime affairs– walked in the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the North and Mediterranean seas. There he was engaged in self-education, studying history and ethnography.

In 1808 he was promoted to midshipman and sent to Russian-Swedish war. There, for his courage, he was promoted to naval lieutenant in 1811. In 1812 he served on the brig Phoenix. For valor in the Patriotic War he received a silver medal.

In 1813, on the ship “Suvorov” he made the first circumnavigation of the world: he delivered cargo to the Far East, simultaneously discovering uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean (and giving them the name Suvorov). Having purchased a shipment of quinine from Peru and taking on board animals outlandish for Russia, he returned to Kronstadt in 1816. During this voyage, Lazarev clarified the coordinates and made sketches of sections of the coasts of Australia, Brazil, and North America.

In 1819, Lazarev, together with F.F. Bellingshausen, was assigned “to search for the sixth continent.” Appointed commander of the sloop Mirny, in the next three years he completed his second circumnavigation of the world, during which on January 16, 1820 he (together with Bellingshausen) discovered a sixth of the world - Antarctica - and a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean. For this expedition, M.P. Lazarev was immediately promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, granted a pension with the rank of lieutenant and appointed commander of the frigate "Cruiser".

On the “Cruiser” M.P. Lazarev made his third trip around the world in 1822–1825 - to the shores of Russian possessions in North America. During it, extensive scientific research was carried out in meteorology and ethnography. Lazarev's successes in military affairs and research work were awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree, and the rank of captain, 1st rank.

In 1826, as commander of the ship "Azov", the naval commander made the transition to the Mediterranean Sea, where he participated in the 1827 Navarin naval battle. In that battle, Azov led the Russian battleships, which took over main blow the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, completely defeated by the joint efforts of the Russian, French and English squadrons. For this victory, the sailor received the rank of rear admiral, and the Azov team, led by him, was awarded the St. George flag for the first time in the history of the Russian fleet.

In 1828–1829, Lazarev, as chief of staff of the Russian squadron in the Mediterranean, took part in the blockade of the Dardanelles.

In 1832 he was appointed chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet and ports. In April 1833 he was promoted to vice admiral, received the rank of adjutant general and appointment as military governor of Sevastopol and Nikolaev. Under his leadership, the construction of new and reconstruction of old port cities began (reconstruction in the center of Sevastopol of the “Ridge of Lawlessness” - mud hut houses of the urban poor randomly built on the central city hill, the foundation of the Count's pier, the Historical Boulevard). On the initiative of the governor, a Maritime Library was created in Sevastopol; he personally supervised the acquisition of its collections.

During the 18 years of his governorship on the Black Sea, more than 30 battleships and steamships, over 150 large and small military vessels entered service.

Having taken the initiative of constant military observations, security, reconnaissance, and individual combat operations with the help of ships of the Black Sea Fleet cruising along the Caucasus coast, Lazarev volunteered to personally lead the squadron with landing troops General N.N. Raevsky. Having landed on the coast of the Caucasus in 1838, the landing force occupied several coastal points and erected fortifications near the Tuapse, Psezuap, Subashi, and Shapsukho rivers. Fortification at the river Psezuape was called Lazarev's fort. Thus, in 1838–1840, the Caucasian coast was strengthened, conditions were created for the uninterrupted cruising of fleet ships and the protection of the southern borders of Russia.

A tireless worker, persistent in achieving his goal, selflessly devoted to maritime affairs, Lazarev cultivated the same qualities in his subordinates. He paid special attention to personal development healthy mind competitions in work, exercises and especially in ship management. Considering that the best school The command is responsible for educating young officers, Lazarev spared no expense to increase the number of small ships. They were widely used by him for cruising and blockade service off the Caucasian coast. In the harsh environment of this service, a whole galaxy of students grew up, brilliant officers and admirals, brought up in the glorious traditions of Russian naval affairs, laid down in the 18th century. F.F.Ushakov - P.S.Nakhimov, V.A.Kornilov, V.I.Istomin, G.I.Butakov. Over the years of naval and civil service, Lazarev was repeatedly awarded orders Russian Empire, had highest degree distinctions - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, as well as orders of other states.

Closely following the development of the main fleets sea powers, especially England, the admiral took care of increasing the tonnage and artillery armament of battleships, insisted on rearmament of the fleet, anticipating inevitable transition to the steam engine. Lazarev personally took Nicholas I with the project for the construction of a new admiralty in Nikolaev with five dry docks, and was in personal correspondence with the emperor. “Despite your fatigue, you continue to work tirelessly on business...” Nicholas I wrote to him in a letter accompanying the royal gift of 2,000 silver rubles. – You do not spare yourself. No matter how you aggravate your illness...”

The emperor was referring to the admiral’s incurable disease at that time - stomach cancer. In 1851, with his wife, daughter and physician, he went to Europe for consultations with doctors and died on April 11 in Vienna. He was buried in Sevastopol with great honors. On the day of the funeral, 7,000 silver rubles were collected for the monument (built in 1867 according to the design of the sculptor N.S. Pimenov, it was placed on one of the squares of Sevastopol, and has not survived to this day). Rebuilt and opened after the death of the admiral, the Admiralty in Nikolaev received the name of Lazarevsky. Nearby were built stone three-story barracks for naval ranks for 6,000 people (also Lazarevsky). They have survived to this day, like the Crimean village of the same name.

The name Lazarev was assigned to Russian ships: an armored frigate, a cruiser, an icebreaker. In Sevastopol, one of the streets on the Korabelnaya Side bore the name of the naval commander until July 1993, when a square in the city center was named after him.

Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva