Vasily Golovnin
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Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin (
Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...
: Василий Михайлович Головнин; , Gulyniki,
Ryazan Oblast Ryazan Oblast (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Ryazan, which is also the oblast's largest city. Geography Ryazan Oblast ...
– ,
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) was a Russian
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,
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, and corresponding member of the
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(1818).Vasilli Golovnin, Ella Lury Wiswell, trans. (1979). ''Around the world on the Kamchatka, 1817-1819'', p xx-xxii, xxvi Honolulu: Hawaiian Historical Soc.Dunmore, John (1991). ''Who's who in Pacific navigation,'' p. 118 Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press


Early life and career

Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin was born in April 1776, in the village of Gulyniki in
Ryazan Oblast Ryazan Oblast (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Ryazan, which is also the oblast's largest city. Geography Ryazan Oblast ...
, on his father's country estate.Kenneth N. Owens, Timofeĭ Tarakanov, Ben Hobucket (2001). ''The Wreck of Sv. Nikolai,'' pp. 5, 11-14, 92 Lincoln: University of Nebraska PressVasilii Golovnin, Lisa Millner, trans. (1964). ''Detained in Simon's Bay'', p 3. Cape Town : Friends of the South African Library Both his father and grandfather had served in the Russian military as officers in the elite Preobrazhensky Lifeguard regiment. Golovnin appeared set to continue the family tradition, but his father died while he was still a child, and at the age of twelve he was enrolled in the Russian Naval College as a
cadet A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...
. He graduated four years later in 1792. Golovnin entered active service as a midshipman in May and June 1790, participating i
several naval battles
against the
Swedes Swedes (), or Swedish people, are an ethnic group native to Sweden, who share a common ancestry, Culture of Sweden, culture, History of Sweden, history, and Swedish language, language. They mostly inhabit Sweden and the other Nordic countries, ...
.V N Berkh, V M Golovnin, Alaska Historical Society, Sitka Historical Society, Alaska Historical Commission. (1979). ''The Wreck of the Neva,'' p. 60, Anchorage: Alaska Historical Society He served in several foreign campaigns between 1793 and 1798. From 1798 to 1800 he served as adjutant and interpreter to Vice Admiral M. K. Makarov, commander of a Russian squadron operating jointly with the British fleet in the
North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...
.Kodansha. (1983). ''Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Volume 3'', p. 43-44, New York & Tokyo: Kodansha On the orders of Tsar
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, Golovnin was sent, along with several other Russian officers, to obtain further training aboard British ships.Robin Fisher, Hugh J. M. Johnston (1979). ''Captain James Cook and His Times'', p. 124. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre He served three years (1802–1805) with the
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under Admirals
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, Collingwood, and Cornwallis. During this period, war was once again declared between the British and French, and Golovnin saw action while serving under Admiral Nelson.Cynthia H. Whittaker, E. Kasinec, Robert H. Davis (2003). ''Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825,'' p. 113 Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press He returned to Russia in 1806, and began compiling a code of naval signals on the English pattern, which remained in use by the Russian fleet for more than twenty years.


''Diana''s voyage

Golovnin was given command of the sloop ''Diana'' in 1806, and made his first voyage around the world (1807—1809), with the object of conducting a survey of the northern Pacific, and transporting supplies to Okhotsk. ''Diana'' set sail from
Kronstadt Kronstadt (, ) is a Russian administrative divisions of Saint Petersburg, port city in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal cities of Russia, federal city of Saint Petersburg, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg, near the head ...
on 7 July 1807. A severe storm in April 1808 prevented ''Diana'' from sailing around
Cape Horn Cape Horn (, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which is Águila Islet), Cape Horn marks the nor ...
, and Golovnin decided to set sail for the
Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope ( ) is a rocky headland on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A List of common misconceptions#Geography, common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Afri ...
in
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
, to restock the ship's supplies. He anchored in the nearby port of
Simon's Town Simon's Town (), sometimes spelled Simonstown, is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa and is home to Naval Base Simon's Town, the South African Navy's largest base. It is located on the shores of Simon's Bay in False Bay, on the eastern s ...
on 3 May 1808. Golovnin, having been at sea for ten months, was unaware that Russian relations with Britain had deteriorated, and Russia had allied herself with the French. ''Diana'' was immediately detained as an enemy vessel by a British naval squadron, pending receipt of appropriate instructions from
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Golovnin and his crew spent more than a year detained aboard ''Diana'' at Simon's Town awaiting a decision from British authorities. When it became increasingly clear that a decision might never come, Golovnin began to plot their escape. On 28 May 1809, perfect conditions presented themselves - a fair wind and poor visibility. The crew severed the anchor cables, and managed successfully to sail out of the bay, passing directly in front of several British warships. Once the British discovered that they had escaped, they set off in pursuit, but failed to overtake ''Diana'', which sailed safely to
Kamchatka The Kamchatka Peninsula (, ) is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of about . The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's eastern and western coastlines, respectively. Immediately offshore along the Pacific ...
in 1810, and news of ''Diana''s "audacious escape" quickly spread throughout the world. Golovnin left Kamchatka in 1810, sailing to
Baranof Island Baranof Island is an island in the northern Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle, in Alaska. The name "Baranof" was given to the island in 1805 by Imperial Russian Navy captain Yuri Lisyansky, U. F. Lisianski in honor of Alexander Andrey ...
, a recently settled outpost of the
Russian-American Company The Russian-American Company Under the High Patronage of His Imperial Majesty was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the Shelikhov-Golikov Company, United American Company. Emperor Paul I of Russia chartered the c ...
. In 1819, he published an account of their voyage, detention and escape, titled ''Journey of the Russian Emperor’s sloop Diana from Kronstadt to Kamchatka''.


Captivity in Japan

In 1811, Golovnin described and mapped the
Kuril Islands The Kuril Islands or Kurile Islands are a volcanic archipelago administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East. The islands stretch approximately northeast from Hokkaido in Japan to Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, separating the ...
from the Strait of Hope to the eastern shores of
Iturup Island Iturup (; ), also historically known by #Names, other names, is an island in the Kuril Archipelago separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. The town of Kurilsk, administrative center of Kurilsky District, is located roughly mi ...
( Etorofu in Japanese).Rimer, J. Thomas (1995). ''A Hidden Fire: Russian and Japanese Cultural Encounters, 1868-1926,'' p.3 Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press While exploring Kunashir Island ( Kunashiri in Japanese), he was lured ashore, taken prisoner, charged with violating
Sakoku is the most common name for the isolationist foreign policy of the Japanese Tokugawa shogunate under which, during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1868), relations and trade between Japan and other countries were severely limited, and almost all ...
(a Japanese policy prohibiting foreigners from entering Japan), and held captive for two years by the
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese on the island of
Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...
. Golovnin was said to possess a "superior education and fascination with foreign cultures." After making one failed attempt to escape his captors, Golovnin decided to utilize his time in detainment to master the Japanese language, and familiarize himself with
Japanese culture Japanese culture has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Since the Jomon period, ancestral ...
and traditions. Golovnin was released in 1813, returned to Russia, and published an account of his years in captivity. His book, ''Captivity in Japan During the Years 1811, 1812, 1813'', became an instant classic. It was hailed in Russia as an authoritative volume on Japanese culture, and helped shape an entire generation's view of Japan. Golovnin clearly respected the Japanese, portraying them "as intelligent, as patriotic, and as worthy rivals" of the Russians in the Pacific. His representation of Japanese religious practices also became influential in Europe; he claimed that the Japanese practiced a form of
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
or Indian religion but a minority followed a distant, indigenous form of
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, influencing later scholars' claims about Japanese religion well into the 19th century. The captivity of Golovnin almost led to war between Russia and Japan in what became known as the Golovnin Incident.


Around the world on the Kamchatka

On 7 September 1817, Golovnin set out on a second voyage around the world aboard the frigate ''Kamchatka.'' Serving under him were three future Russian explorers of prominence -
Fyodor Litke Fyodor, Fedor () or Feodor is the Russian-language form of the originally Greek-language name "Theodore" () meaning "God's gift" or "god-given". Fedora () is the feminine form. "Fyodor" and "Fedor" are two English transliterations of the same Ru ...
, Fyodor Matyushkin, and Ferdinand von Wrangel. After sailing around
Cape Horn Cape Horn (, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which is Águila Islet), Cape Horn marks the nor ...
, the objective was to deliver supplies to Kamchatka, and survey previously unexplored islands along what is now the northwestern coast of
Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
. Golovnin was also tasked with compiling a report detailing relations between the
Kodiak Island Kodiak Island (, ) is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, Kodiak Island is the second largest island in the Un ...
ers and employees of the Russian-American Company. He arrived in Kamchatka the following May, then returned to Europe via the
Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope ( ) is a rocky headland on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A List of common misconceptions#Geography, common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Afri ...
, completing his
circumnavigation Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical object, astronomical body (e.g. a planet or natural satellite, moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth. The first circumnaviga ...
by landing at St Petersburg on 17 September 1819. After the journey, Golovnin published ''Around the World on the Kamchatka'', describing his voyage, and his encounters with the native Kodiak and Sandwich Islanders. Though the journey had "achieved little in the way of new discoveries," Golovnin returned with "a vast store of scientific and astronomical information" to share with Russian scientists. In the book ''The Lost Pianos of Siberia'' by Sophy Roberts, it is mentioned that Golovnin was "busted" out of his Japanese captivity by Pyotr Rikord, the newly appointed chief of Kamchatka. As a "thank you" Golovnin rewarded Rikord's wife Lyudmila, a keen pianist, with a piano shipped all the way from St Petersburg, which took eight months and eight days to deliver.


Later career and death

In 1821, Golovnin was appointed assistant director of the Russian Naval College, and later, in 1823, General
Quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land army, armies, a quartermaster is an officer who supervises military logistics, logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distri ...
of the Fleet. A talented administrator, Golovnin successfully managed the activities of the
shipbuilding Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other Watercraft, floating vessels. In modern times, it normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation th ...
, commissariat, and
artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
departments. Under his supervision, over two hundred ships were built, including the first Russian
steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...
s. Golovnin also served as a mentor to numerous Russian navigators, including the aforementioned Fyodor Litke and Ferdinand von Wrangel. Golovnin died of
cholera Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...
during an
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that swept through the city of Saint Petersburg in 1831.


Legacy and honors

Golovnin was awarded many honors during his life, including the Order of St. Vladimir and the
Order of Saint George The Order of Saint George () is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. It was originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) as the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire for commiss ...
, serving as commander of the latter. According to one historian, his literary works detailing his adventures at sea and on shore remain notable due to his "respect for historical detail... iscritical ability, literary skill, and lively curiosity." A complete edition was published at St Petersburg in five volumes in 1864, with maps and charts, and a biography of the author. The village of Golovin, Alaska, Cape Golovnin, as well as Golovnin Bay and Golovnin Lagoon, are all named in honor of Vasily Golovnin. A strait between two of the Kuril Islands, Golovnin volcano on Kunashir Island, capes on
Novaya Zemlya Novaya Zemlya (, also , ; , ; ), also spelled , is an archipelago in northern Russia. It is situated in the Arctic Ocean, in the extreme northeast of Europe, with Cape Flissingsky, on the northern island, considered the extreme points of Europe ...
and
Franz Josef Land Franz Josef Land () is a Russian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. It is inhabited only by military personnel. It constitutes the northernmost part of Arkhangelsk Oblast and consists of 192 islands, which cover an area of , stretching from east ...
, are among other landmarks bearing his name. The cape of Point Hope in Alaska was also originally named in Golovnin's honor.


Family

Golovnin married the daughter of a
Tver Tver (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is situated at the confluence of the Volga and Tvertsa rivers. Tver is located northwest of Moscow. Population: The city is ...
landowner and retired army officer, Evdokiya Stepanovna Lutkovskaya (1795–1884). All four of Evdokiya's brothers served in the Russian Navy; two of them, Peter and Feopemt Lutkovsky, became Admirals, and rose to great prominence.Aleksandr Ivanovich Alekseev, Katherine L. Arndt, Trans. (1996) ''Fedor Petrovich Litke,'' p. 152 Anchorage: University of Alaska Press Admiral Feopemt Lutkovsky (1803–1852) served under Golovnin during his voyage aboard the ''Kamchatka'' (1817–1819). Feopemt was described as "free thinking", and according to testimony given by individuals involved in the Decembrist Uprising, he was in close communication with several members of their society. He avoided prosecution for treason due to the intervention of Fyodor Litke. Evdokiya's sister Ekaterina also married a naval officer, Rear Admiral Maksim Maksimovich Genning. Golovnin's son, Alexander Vasilyevich Golovnin (1821–1886), initially followed in his father's footsteps, serving in the Russian Navy. A close friend and associate of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, Alexander retired from the Navy, and served as Minister of Education (1861–1866) under Tsar Alexander II.James P. Duffy, Vincent L. Ricci. (2002). ''Czars: Russia's Rulers For Over One Thousand Years'' p. 314 New York: Barnes & Nobles Books In addition to his work as a naval officer and bureaucrat, Alexander served as director of the journal ''Morskoi Sbornik,'' and was actively involved in the
Zemstvo A zemstvo (, , , ''zemstva'') was an institution of local government set up in consequence of the emancipation reform of 1861 of Imperial Russia by Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Nikolay Milyutin elaborated the idea of the zemstvo, and the fi ...
. It was Alexander who preserved, collected, and eventually published his father's works under the title ''Works and Translations'' (''Sochineniia i Perevody'').


Further reading

* Golovnin, Vasily. (2020). ''Captive in Japan''. TOYO Press.


Fiction

* Vasily Golovnin makes an appearance in Patrick O'Brian's novel ''
The Mauritius Command ''The Mauritius Command'' is the fourth naval historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1977. Aubrey is married and the father of twin girls, owner of a cottage with a fine observatory he built. He i ...
'' (1977).


See also

*
Sakoku is the most common name for the isolationist foreign policy of the Japanese Tokugawa shogunate under which, during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1868), relations and trade between Japan and other countries were severely limited, and almost all ...
* List of Westerners who visited Japan before 1868


References


Sources


How Sloop Diana, commanded by Lieutenant Vasilii M. Golovnin, eluded the British fleet at Simon's BayUSGS - Alaska


External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golovnin, Vasily 1776 births 1831 deaths People from Ryazan Oblast People from Pronsky Uyezd Nobility from the Russian Empire Imperial Russian Navy admirals Maritime navigators from the Russian Empire Explorers from the Russian Empire Explorers of Asia Novaya Zemlya Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 1st class Deaths from cholera