Yevgeny Burachyok
Encyclopedia
Yevgeny Stepanovich Burachyok ' onMouseout='HidePop("15107")' href="/topics/Gregorian_calendar">Gregorian calendar
), 1836–1911) was a Russia
n seaman and the second head of the garrison of the military post of Vladivostok
in 1861–1863, who significantly contributed to the post's early development.
Yevgeny Burachyok was born in St. Petersburg
in the family of the shipbilder Stepan Burachyok. At the age of six he entered the Sea Cadet Corps. At this early age Yevgeny was fluent in Russian
and German
; in later years he also mastered English
and Chinese
.
On August 11 (23), 1851 Yevgeny became a midshipman
of the Sea Cadet Corps and served on the ships of the Baltic Fleet
. In 1853, he was promoted to the rank of the warrant officer
and in 1856—to the rank of an ensign
. In 1859, he was assigned to the clipper Razboynik.
Aboard Razboynik, however, Burachyok discovered that he is strongly susceptible to sea-sickness
. In 1860, during Razboynik' s voyage from Kronstadt
to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
, his sickness progressed to the point where it endangered his life. On June 22 (July 6), 1861, he was forced to disembark in Vladivostok
in order to return to Saint Petersburg
by land.
At this same time, the Governor of Primorskaya Oblast
Pyotr Kazakevich was facing a dilemma. Vladivostok, founded only a year ago, needed a commanding officer for its garrison, as warrant officer Nikolay Komarov
was relieved of duty for alcoholism and stealing just two days before Razboynik sailed into the Golden Horn Bay
. After assessing Burachyok, Kazakevich found him to be a perfect candidate for the vacant position, as he was an experienced sea officer, had an engineering background, and was a fluent speaker of Chinese (although later Burachyok discovered that his classical Chinese was incomprehensible to the local Chinese population). Burachyok accepted the offer and assumed the post on July 26 (August 7), 1861 after having recovered from his illness.
Buryachyok's appointment opened a new phase in the development of Vladivostok. After only a year of hard work, by June 1862 the military post grew into a fully functional sea port
capable of servicing ocean vessels and was officially granted sea port status. Burachyok also started prospecting Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula
, on which Vladivostok is located, for coal
deposits. At the time, the Russian Navy
was undergoing a conversion from sailing ship
s to steam ship
s, and the Siberian Military Flotilla already had several steamboats. Having coal available in Vladivostok greatly increased the port's significance and eliminated the need to purchase coal from Qing China
and Japan
. After scouting Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula almost in its entirety, two coal deposits were discovered in the vicinity of Vladivostok.
Burachyok also encouraged the formation of the port's civil population by assisting the soldiers and sailors wishing to stay in Vladivostok after completing their service and alloting them land on the hill slopes to build housing. He also encouraged Russian merchants to develop trade in the port.
In 1863, however, Burachyok's old illness returned and he was forced to leave Vladivostok for medical reasons. On February 28 (March 12), 1863, his transfer order was officially signed in St. Petersburg and Buryachyok left for Krondstadt soon after. Later this year, one of the hills in the vicinity of Vladivostok was named after him (Burachok Hill). In April 1863, Burachyok was awarded the Order of Stanislav 3rd Class for his achievements.
Upon his return, Burachyok served in the coastal positions and retired in 1888 in the rank of a rear admiral
. He died in 1911 and was interred at the Smolensk Cemetery in St. Petersburg. On July 2, 1988, the remains of Burachyok were moved from the closing Smolensk Cemetery and re-buried at the Naval Cemetery in Vladivostok.
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
), 1836–1911) was a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n seaman and the second head of the garrison of the military post of Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
in 1861–1863, who significantly contributed to the post's early development.
Yevgeny Burachyok was born in St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in the family of the shipbilder Stepan Burachyok. At the age of six he entered the Sea Cadet Corps. At this early age Yevgeny was fluent in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
; in later years he also mastered English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
.
On August 11 (23), 1851 Yevgeny became a 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...
of the Sea Cadet Corps and served on the ships of 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...
. In 1853, he was promoted to the rank of the warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
and in 1856—to the rank of an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
. In 1859, he was assigned to the clipper Razboynik.
Aboard Razboynik, however, Burachyok discovered that he is strongly susceptible to sea-sickness
Sea-sickness
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness characterized by a feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo, experienced after spending time on a craft on water. It is typically brought on by the rocking motion of the craft. Some people are particularly vulnerable to the condition with minor...
. In 1860, during Razboynik
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur often romanized as Nikolayevsk-na-Amure, is a town and the administrative center of Nikolayevsky District of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia located on the Amur River close to its liman in the Pacific Ocean...
, his sickness progressed to the point where it endangered his life. On June 22 (July 6), 1861, he was forced to disembark in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
in order to return to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
by land.
At this same time, the Governor of Primorskaya Oblast
Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai , informally known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province or Maritime Territory. Its administrative center is in the city of Vladivostok...
Pyotr Kazakevich was facing a dilemma. Vladivostok, founded only a year ago, needed a commanding officer for its garrison, as warrant officer Nikolay Komarov
Nikolay Vasilyevich Komarov
Nikolay Vasilyevich Komarov was a Russian junior commissioned officer who is commonly considered to be the founder of the city of Vladivostok.Little is known about Komarov's youth...
was relieved of duty for alcoholism and stealing just two days before Razboynik sailed into the Golden Horn Bay
Zolotoy Rog
Zolotoy Rog Bay is a sheltered horn-shaped bay separated from the Peter the Great Gulf of the Sea of Japan by Shkota Peninsula on the north-west, Cape Goldobina on the east-north-east, and Cape Tigrovy on the west. The bay is seven kilometers long, with a width of about two kilometers and a depth...
. After assessing Burachyok, Kazakevich found him to be a perfect candidate for the vacant position, as he was an experienced sea officer, had an engineering background, and was a fluent speaker of Chinese (although later Burachyok discovered that his classical Chinese was incomprehensible to the local Chinese population). Burachyok accepted the offer and assumed the post on July 26 (August 7), 1861 after having recovered from his illness.
Buryachyok's appointment opened a new phase in the development of Vladivostok. After only a year of hard work, by June 1862 the military post grew into a fully functional sea port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
capable of servicing ocean vessels and was officially granted sea port status. Burachyok also started prospecting Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula
Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula
The Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula is a peninsula in the Peter the Great Gulf, which it subdivides into the Amur Bay to the west and the Ussuri Bay to the east. It is approximately 30 km long and 12 km wide....
, on which Vladivostok is located, for coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
deposits. At the time, the Russian Navy
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
was undergoing a conversion from sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s to steam ship
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s, and the Siberian Military Flotilla already had several steamboats. Having coal available in Vladivostok greatly increased the port's significance and eliminated the need to purchase coal from Qing China
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. After scouting Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula almost in its entirety, two coal deposits were discovered in the vicinity of Vladivostok.
Burachyok also encouraged the formation of the port's civil population by assisting the soldiers and sailors wishing to stay in Vladivostok after completing their service and alloting them land on the hill slopes to build housing. He also encouraged Russian merchants to develop trade in the port.
In 1863, however, Burachyok's old illness returned and he was forced to leave Vladivostok for medical reasons. On February 28 (March 12), 1863, his transfer order was officially signed in St. Petersburg and Buryachyok left for Krondstadt soon after. Later this year, one of the hills in the vicinity of Vladivostok was named after him (Burachok Hill). In April 1863, Burachyok was awarded the Order of Stanislav 3rd Class for his achievements.
Upon his return, Burachyok served in the coastal positions and retired in 1888 in the rank of a rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. He died in 1911 and was interred at the Smolensk Cemetery in St. Petersburg. On July 2, 1988, the remains of Burachyok were moved from the closing Smolensk Cemetery and re-buried at the Naval Cemetery in Vladivostok.