Commander Nakhimov short biography. Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (admiral): biography

Nakhimov briefly about the Russian naval commander, admiral and defender of Sevastopol

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov short biography for children

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov - briefly about the Russian naval commander, admiral and defender of Sevastopol.
Born in 1802 in the small village of Gorodok in a large family of a retired officer. The parents gave their son a good education at home and soon Nakhimov was enrolled in the Cadet Naval Corps.

He made his first voyage in the Baltic Sea in 1817. Received the rank of non-commissioned officer. Then, as part of Lazarev’s team, he made a three-year trip around the world and was promoted to lieutenant.
He gained his first combat experience in the Battle of Navarino.

For the courage shown during the battle while commanding the battery, he received the rank of lieutenant commander. Then he received under his command a Turkish ship captured during the battle with the Turks in Navarino Bay. Until 1852, when he received the rank of vice admiral, Nakhimov commanded various ships and everywhere enjoyed enormous popularity and love among sailors.

Speaking briefly about Nakhimov, it is necessary to note one character trait that determined his entire future life - love for his profession. Service and the sea were his life's work. Nakhimov gave everything to the fleet. The admiral never married, his service took up all his time.

At the very beginning of the Crimean War, Nakhimov once again proved his military skill by blocking a Turkish squadron near the city of Sinop and then defeating it in battle. At the same time, the admiral’s fleet did not suffer losses and all the ships were saved. At the same time, this victory showed that the Russian fleet was lagging behind the flotillas of European countries.

After Turkey's failures in the Black Sea, France and Great Britain entered the war with Russia. Nakhimov by that time was sent to guard the Sevastopol raid. After the blockade of the city by the enemy, he became the head of the defense of its southern part.

As naval officers, the defenders of Sevastopol had to resort to a heavy flag - to sink some of the ships in the bay, thus blocking the way for the enemy fleet.

After the tragic death of Kornilov, Nakhimov becomes the leader and soul of the defense. Under his leadership, the city courageously held its defense for nine long months. Nakhimov, like Kornilov, died from a bullet to the head while inspecting the battle site in 1855. All admirals - defenders of the city were buried together.

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Nakhimov Pavel Stepanovich (1802–1855), Russian naval commander, hero of the Sevastopol defense. Born June 23 (July 5), 1802 in the village. A town (modern village of Nakhimovskoye) in the Vyazemsky district of the Smolensk province in a large noble family (eleven children). Son of retired major S.M. Nakhimov. In 1815–1818 he studied at the Naval Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg; in 1817, among the best midshipmen on the brig Phoenix, he sailed to the shores of Sweden and Denmark. Having graduated from the Corps in January 1818, sixth on the list of graduates, in February he received the rank of midshipman and was assigned to the 2nd naval crew of the St. Petersburg port. In 1821 he was transferred to the 23rd naval crew of the Baltic Fleet. In 1822–1825, as a watch officer, he participated in M.P. Lazarev’s round-the-world voyage on the frigate “Cruiser”; upon his return he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree. From 1826 he served under M.P. Lazarev on the battleship Azov. In the summer of 1827, he made the transition from Kronstadt to the Mediterranean Sea on board; in the Battle of Navarino on October 8 (20), 1827 between the combined Anglo-Franco-Russian squadron and the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, he commanded a battery on the Azov; in December 1827 he received the Order of St. George, 4th degree and the rank of captain-lieutenant. In August 1828 he became the commander of a captured Turkish corvette, renamed Navarin. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1828–1829, he took part in the blockade of the Dardanelles by the Russian fleet. In December 1831 he was appointed commander of the frigate "Pallada" of the Baltic squadron of F.F. Bellingshausen. In January 1834, at the request of M.P. Lazarev, he was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet; became commander of the battleship Silistria. In August 1834 he was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank, and in December 1834 to the rank of 1st rank. He turned the Silistria into a model ship. In 1838–1839 he underwent treatment abroad. In 1840 he took part in landing operations against Shamil’s detachments near Tuapse and Psezuape (Lazarevskaya) on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. In April 1842, for his diligent service, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. In July 1844 he helped the Golovinsky fort repel an attack by the highlanders. In September 1845 he was promoted to rear admiral and headed the 1st brigade of the 4th naval division of the Black Sea Fleet; For success in combat training of crews, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree. From March 1852 he commanded the 5th naval division; in October he received the rank of vice admiral.

Before the Crimean War of 1853–1856, already being the commander of the 1st Black Sea Squadron, in September 1853 he carried out the operational transfer of the 3rd Infantry Division from Crimea to the Caucasus. With the outbreak of hostilities in October 1853, she cruised off the coast of Asia Minor. On November 18 (30), without waiting for the approach of the detachment of steam frigates V.A. Kornilov, he attacked and destroyed the twice superior forces of the Turkish fleet in Sinop Bay, without losing a single ship (the last battle in the history of the Russian sailing fleet); awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree. In December he was appointed commander of the squadron that defended the Sevastopol raid. After the landing of the Anglo-French-Turkish squadron in the Crimea on September 2–6 (14–18), 1854, together with V.A. Kornilov, he led the preparation of Sevastopol for defense; formed battalions from coastal and naval commands; was forced to agree to the sinking of part of the sailing ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the Sevastopol Bay. On September 11 (23), he was appointed chief of defense of the South Side, becoming the main assistant to V.A. Kornilov. Successfully repelled the first assault on the city on October 5 (17). After the death of V.A. Kornilov, he headed, together with V.I. Istomin and E.I. Totleben, the entire defense of Sevastopol. February 25 (March 9), 1855 appointed commander of the Sevastopol port and temporary military governor of the city; in March he was promoted to admiral. Under his leadership, Sevastopol heroically repelled Allied attacks for nine months. Thanks to his energy, the defense acquired an active character: he organized sorties, waged counter-battery and mine warfare, erected new fortifications, mobilized the civilian population to defend the city, and personally toured forward positions, inspiring the troops. Awarded the Order of the White Eagle.

On June 28 (July 10), 1855, he was mortally wounded by a bullet in the temple on the Kornilovsky bastion of the Malakhov Kurgan. He died on June 30 (July 12) without regaining consciousness. The death of P.S. Nakhimov predetermined the imminent fall of Sevastopol. He was buried in the admiral's tomb of the Naval Cathedral of St. Vladimir in Sevastopol next to V.A. Kornilov and V.I. Istomin.

P.S. Nakhimov had great military talents; He was distinguished by courage and originality of tactical decisions, personal courage and composure. In battle, he tried to avoid losses as much as possible. He attached great importance to the combat training of sailors and officers. He was popular in the navy.

During the Great Patriotic War, on March 3, 1944, the Nakhimov Medal and the Order of Nakhimov, 1st and 2nd degrees, were approved.

The history of the Russian Navy knows many glorious traditions, one of which is to perpetuate the memory of famous naval commanders of the past in the names of ships on combat duty today. Among them is the warship "Admiral Nakhimov", bearing the name of the glorious Russian sailor who covered himself with glory in many battles. Let's take a closer look at the life of this wonderful man.

The early years of the future naval commander

Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov, admiral of the Russian fleet and hero of the defense of Sevastopol, was born on July 5, 1802 in the small village of Gorodok, located in the Smolensk province. He was the seventh of eleven children of retired Second Major Stepan Mikhailovich Nakhimov. In addition to him, four more sons grew up in a large family, who also eventually became sailors.

Despite the fact that the future Admiral Nakhimov dreamed of ships and long voyages from early childhood, difficulties arose when entering the Naval Cadet Corps - there were too many applicants, and due to a lack of places he had to wait two years.

While studying at this famous St. Petersburg educational institution, fate brought him together with such subsequently famous military and government figures as A.P. Rykachev, P.M. Novoseltsev, as well as the creator of the famous explanatory dictionary V.I. Dal. Together with them in the summer of 1817 he went on his first voyage. On the brig Phoenix, a team of young midshipmen visited the ports of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Karlscrow.

The first officer's shoulder straps

In 1818, upon completion of his studies, Pavel Nakhimov was promoted to midshipman and sent to serve on the frigate “Cruiser”, where his commander was another famous Russian naval commander M. P. Lazarev, who later gained fame as the discoverer of Antarctica. Very soon they became so close that for the young and still inexperienced officer he became not only a boss, but also a close person, who in many ways replaced his father.

After circumnavigating the world on the “Cruiser” (1822-1825), Nakhimov’s uniform was decorated with lieutenant shoulder straps, and two years later, for the distinction shown during the naval battle of Navarino with the Turkish fleet, he was promoted to lieutenant commander. It was a kind of baptism of fire, which Nakhimov passed with honor. Admiral L.P. Heyden, commander of the Russian squadron, personally awarded him the Order of St. George IV degree.

The path from lieutenant commander to vice admiral

In 1828, a twenty-six-year-old officer climbed onto the captain's bridge for the first time. He was entrusted with command of the captured Turkish corvette Navarin. During the period that soon began the Russian-Turkish war, his ship, as part of the Russian squadron, took part in the blockade of the Dardanelles, and at the end of hostilities it became part of the Baltic Fleet. Over the next five years, Nakhimov commanded the frigate Pallada, and then, having received a transfer to the Black Sea, with the rank of captain 1st rank, the battleship Silistria.

Much documentary evidence has been preserved of how the crew of the ship entrusted to him honorably carried out difficult and responsible tasks of the command. For high professionalism, diligence in service and personal courage, in 1845, by decree of Emperor Nicholas I, Nakhimov was promoted to rear admiral, and seven years later to vice admiral of the Russian fleet. With this rank, he assumed the post of head of the naval division.

Commander of the Black Sea Squadron

With the beginning of the Crimean War of 1853-1856. The brunt of the fighting fell on the Black Sea Fleet squadron, which by that time was commanded by Nakhimov. In such a difficult period, the admiral managed to mobilize all the reserves at his disposal to confront a powerful and well-armed enemy.

He personally supervised most of the most important operations. Suffice it to recall the Battle of Sinop, in which on November 30, 1853, he destroyed the main forces of the Turkish fleet, discovered, despite stormy weather, and blocked in the harbor of the city of Sinop. The Emperor personally congratulated Nakhimov on such a glorious victory. Having sent Pavel Stepanovich the Highest Charter, he called in it the defeat of the Turkish squadron as an adornment of the chronicle of the history of the Russian fleet.

At the head of a besieged city

In March 1855, when enemy ships blocked Sevastopol from the sea, there was an urgent need for an energetic and experienced leader capable of leading its defense. P. S. Nakhimov became such a person. The admiral was appointed to two key positions at once - the governor of the city and the commander of the Sevastopol port. This gave him broad powers, but also great responsibility.

In carrying out the defense of the city, he was largely helped by the unquestioned authority that he enjoyed among soldiers and sailors, and thanks to which he exerted the greatest moral influence on them. It is reliably known that among the lower ranks he was called the “father-benefactor.”

Fearless Commander

Treasuring the lives of the soldiers and officers subordinate to him, Nakhimov nevertheless became accustomed to risking his own head without hesitation. Often, with a soldier’s rifle in his hands, he rushed ahead of everyone into a bayonet attack or defiantly appeared above the parapet of a trench in full view of the enemy. He didn't always get away with this daring. During one of the shelling of the city in 1854, he was seriously wounded in the head, and a few months later he received a shell shock.

But in spite of everything, his fearlessness raised the spirit of soldiers and officers who saw that under any circumstances their Admiral Nakhimov was next to them. The photos presented in the article were taken from paintings and drawings depicting the famous naval commander at different periods of his life, but in each of them his appearance breathes with indomitable courage and bravery. This is how he remains forever in our history.

Death of the Admiral

The defense of Sevastopol cost the lives of a huge number of people who, by the will of fate, were drawn into this bloody massacre that lasted almost eleven months. Among them was Admiral Nakhimov. The biography of this outstanding military leader ended at the peak of his career, in an atmosphere of universal love and recognition of his merits. His name was pronounced with respect by everyone - from the ordinary soldier to the emperor.

The cause of his unexpected and tragic death was a head wound received by Pavel Stepanovich on June 28, 1855, while he was touring the advanced defensive structures erected in the Malakhov Kurgan area. That day, as before, he pointedly ignored the bullets whistling around him, one of which turned out to be fatal for him. Delivered to a field hospital, Nakhimov spent two days in severe agony and died on June 30, 1955. His ashes found eternal rest in the crypt of the Sevastopol Vladimir Cathedral.

Memory preserved by descendants

Paying tribute to the memory of the famous admiral, several naval schools named after him were opened in our country, and the Order and Medal of Nakhimov were established. In many cities of Russia, monuments were erected in his honor, the most famous of which stands in Sevastopol, in the area of ​​​​the Grafskaya pier. Streets and avenues are named after the hero.

One of the monuments to the famous naval commander was the cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, launched in 1986. Since then, he has been on combat duty as part of the Russian Northern Fleet. Its crews sacredly preserve the traditions of the Russian fleet. Today they have the most modern weapons in their arsenal, including missile launchers capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Since the Admiral Nakhimov is a nuclear-powered cruiser, it has the ability to sail autonomously for many months and carry out the tasks assigned to its crew anywhere in the World Ocean.

In the village of Gorodok, Spas-Volzhinsky volost, Vyazemsky district, Smolensk province. He was the seventh of 11 children of a poor landowner, second major - Stepan Mikhailovich Nakhimov and Feodosia Ivanovna Nakhimova (nee Kozlovskaya). In addition to Pavel, his parents had four more sons - Nikolai, Platon, Ivan and Sergei. All Nakhimov brothers were professional sailors.