Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe
Encyclopedia
Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe (September 19, 1814 – January 3, 1876) was an admiral of the Russian Imperial Navy.
After graduating from naval academy joined the corps of navy cadets
and in 1832 was promoted midshipman
in the Baltic Fleet
serving on the frigates Belton, Kulm and Oranienbaum. In 1836-1837 he was sent to the Caspian Sea
, participating in the naval operations during the Caucasian War
. His bravery during the war earned him the rank of lieutenant
. In 1838 Krabbe was appointed the General Staff of the Imperial Navy, as aide-de-camp to prince L.S. Menshikov.
In 1839 he was sent to the Azov Sea
to organize a naval expedition along the northern coast of the Black Sea
, being in command of a squadron
under admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev
at that time in head of the Black Sea Fleet
. Promoted captain lieutenant
in 1842, he was part of the Russian mission led by admiral Yevfimy Vasilievich Putyatin
to Iran
. Thereafter, in 1847, he was in charge of a naval expedition exploring the delta of the Syr Darya
. He returned to the Black Sea Fleet
in 1853, being in command of a squadron under viceadmiral Lazar Markovich Serebryakov.
The same year he was promoted imperial aide-de-camp
and appointed deputy director of the Ministry of Navy's Inspection Department. Two years later he became director of the department. He returned to active duty during the Crimean War
, returning to the Ministry after the war. While working at the Inspection Department he was actively involved in the equipment of the vessels to be stationed in the delta of the Amur River, creating the first Russian naval base in the Far East
, on the Pacific Ocean
.
His career continued rapidly: Nikolay Krabbe was promoted counter admiral
în 1856, viceadmiral in 1862 and admiral
in 1869. În 1860 he was appointed Minster of the Navy, holding his position for 14 years. His main concern was the modernization of the Russian navy. His main concern was the naval artillery
and he was instrumental in the building of the Obukhovsky Steel Foundry (now Obukhov State Plant) for the production of naval guns. He also started modernizing the fleet from wooden vessels to metal plated ships and from sailing ships to ships equipped with steam engines. He also made the arrangement for Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich's
visit the United States.
In 1874 he was relieved of his duties as Minister of the Navy and appointed vice General Admiral
of the Russian Imperial Navy. Nikolay Krabbe died on January 3, 1876
After graduating from naval academy joined the corps of navy cadets
Sea Cadet Corps (Russia)
The Sea Cadet Corps , occasionally translated as the Marine Cadet Corps or the Naval Cadet Corps, is an educational establishment for training Naval officers for the Russian Navy in Saint Petersburg.It is the oldest existing high school in Russia.-History:...
and in 1832 was promoted midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
serving on the frigates Belton, Kulm and Oranienbaum. In 1836-1837 he was sent to the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
, participating in the naval operations during the Caucasian War
Caucasian War
The Caucasian War of 1817–1864, also known as the Russian conquest of the Caucasus was an invasion of the Caucasus by the Russian Empire which ended with the annexation of the areas of the North Caucasus to Russia...
. His bravery during the war earned him the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. In 1838 Krabbe was appointed the General Staff of the Imperial Navy, as aide-de-camp to prince L.S. Menshikov.
In 1839 he was sent to the Azov Sea
Sea of Azov
The Sea of Azov , known in Classical Antiquity as Lake Maeotis, is a sea on the south of Eastern Europe. It is linked by the narrow Strait of Kerch to the Black Sea to the south and is bounded on the north by Ukraine mainland, on the east by Russia, and on the west by the Ukraine's Crimean...
to organize a naval expedition along the northern coast of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, being in command of a squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
under admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev
Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev
Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev was a Russian fleet commander and explorer who discovered Antarctica.-Education and early career:Lazarev was born in Vladimir, a scion of the old Russian nobility from the Vladimir province. In 1800, he enrolled in Russia's Naval College. Three years later he...
at that time in head of the Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
. Promoted captain lieutenant
Captain Lieutenant
Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of different navies worldwide.It is generally equivalent to the Commonwealth or US rank of lieutenant, and has the NATO rank code of OF-2, though this can vary....
in 1842, he was part of the Russian mission led by admiral Yevfimy Vasilievich Putyatin
Yevfimy Putyatin
Yevfimy Vasilyevich Putyatin was a Russian admiral noted for his diplomatic missions to Japan and China which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Shimoda in 1855.-Early life:...
to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Thereafter, in 1847, he was in charge of a naval expedition exploring the delta of the Syr Darya
Syr Darya
The Syr Darya , also transliterated Syrdarya or Sirdaryo, is a river in Central Asia, sometimes known as the Jaxartes or Yaxartes from its Ancient Greek name . The Greek name is derived from Old Persian, Yakhsha Arta , a reference to the color of the river's water...
. He returned to the Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
in 1853, being in command of a squadron under viceadmiral Lazar Markovich Serebryakov.
The same year he was promoted imperial aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
and appointed deputy director of the Ministry of Navy's Inspection Department. Two years later he became director of the department. He returned to active duty during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, returning to the Ministry after the war. While working at the Inspection Department he was actively involved in the equipment of the vessels to be stationed in the delta of the Amur River, creating the first Russian naval base in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
His career continued rapidly: Nikolay Krabbe was promoted counter admiral
Counter Admiral
Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral...
în 1856, viceadmiral in 1862 and admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in 1869. În 1860 he was appointed Minster of the Navy, holding his position for 14 years. His main concern was the modernization of the Russian navy. His main concern was the naval artillery
Naval artillery
Naval artillery, or naval riflery, is artillery mounted on a warship for use in naval warfare. Naval artillery has historically been used to engage either other ships, or targets on land; in the latter role it is currently termed naval gunfire fire support...
and he was instrumental in the building of the Obukhovsky Steel Foundry (now Obukhov State Plant) for the production of naval guns. He also started modernizing the fleet from wooden vessels to metal plated ships and from sailing ships to ships equipped with steam engines. He also made the arrangement for Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich's
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia was the sixth child and the fourth son of Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Maria Alexandrovna . Destined to a naval career, Alexei Alexandrovich started his military training at the age of 7...
visit the United States.
In 1874 he was relieved of his duties as Minister of the Navy and appointed vice General Admiral
General Admiral
General admiral was a Danish, Dutch, German, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish naval rank. Its historic origin is a title high military or naval dignitaries of early modern Europe sometimes held, for example the commander-in-chief of the Dutch Republic's navy .-Third Reich:In the German...
of the Russian Imperial Navy. Nikolay Krabbe died on January 3, 1876