Aleksey Naumovich Senyavin (1716-1797) was the son of one of the associates of Peter the Great, famous for his victory at Ezel. In honor of the merits of Naum Akimovich, Sinyavin Alexei was immediately accepted into the service as a midshipman. Since 1734, the young sailor has been practicing on the Baltic Sea, in his father's squadron; the difficult transition from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt finally tempered him before military trials. N. A. Sinyavin, appointed to build ships in Bryansk for the Dnieper flotilla against the Turks, took his sons with him. Midshipman Senyavin in 1737 received a baptism of fire during the defense of Ochakov, and the next he survived the death of his father from the plague.

In the Russian-Swedish war of 1741-1743, Lieutenant Senyavin commanded a small galliot and twice offered to send him for reconnaissance, but his impulse was not approved. Not being able to distinguish himself, the sailor earned the rank of captain-lieutenant in just 10 years, in 1754 he became a captain of the 3rd rank. By the beginning of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, he commanded a battleship. In cruises and convoys, Senyavin earned the rank of captain of the 2nd and 1st rank, participated in the first attempt to take Kolberg. A purely naval expedition failed, and in 1761 the fortress was besieged from land by the corps of P. A. Rumyantsev, and from the sea the Russian-Swedish squadron of Vice Admiral A. P. Polyansky blocked it. This time, Senyavin's ship "St. Pavel" took part in the battle with enemy batteries and was damaged, and the commander was wounded. The wound and malaria acquired on the Dnieper put the sailor out of action. On April 30, 1762, he resigned, and only 4 years later he returned to the service as Treasurer General of the Admiralty College. Another 2 years, and the newly minted Rear Admiral Senyavin was appointed commander of a practical squadron. In the summer of 1769, most of the participants in this voyage went to the Mediterranean. Senyavin got a special task: Catherine II in November 1768 elected him commander of the Don Flotilla, which was to be created anew to support the actions of the army heading to the Sea of ​​Azov. Already by the middle of the month, Rear Admiral presented his thoughts on the resumption of shipbuilding on the Don. Together with G. A. Spiridov, the sailor identified 4 types of ships, the so-called newly invented ones, which, with a small draft, made it possible to fight with the Turks in shallow water. Over time, it was assumed the construction of larger ships. On January 7, 1769, Senyavin reported to the Empress about the shortcomings in the preparation of the flotilla and on the same day was approved as the head of the Don expedition. Soon he left through Moscow and Voronezh to the Sea of ​​Azov. By this time, Russian troops occupied Azov and Taganrog without a fight. The latter, despite the shallow depths, was chosen as the base of the flotilla.

On April 5-6, all 5 prams were lowered, and Senyavin determined the freed carpenters to build 29 boats and a dubel boat. On them, the rear admiral intended to go to Azov along with the prams, leaving the construction of 31 boats and boats to General-Kriegs-Commissar Selivanov. At the end of April, Senyavin visited the Ikoretskaya shipyard, where prams were being completed, then went with Selivanov to Pavlovsk, examined the admiralty, which had suffered from time, and immediately ordered to begin its restoration. Here he intended to build 6 "newly invented ships" of the 1st and 2nd kind, the remaining 6 - at the Ikoretsk shipyard, and small ships - in Tavrov. Taking advantage of the permission of Catherine II to write directly to her, on May 23, the rear admiral complained to the empress that much of what was needed to equip the ships had not yet arrived. He sent prams down the Don, until the waters completely subsided, in order to complete them on the way. He wanted to have a dozen 32-gun ships, and to build galleys for the "newly invented ships", convenient in shallow water. For basing battleships, Senyavin proposed to take possession of the eastern part of the Crimea, and then the entire peninsula. Kerch, Kafa (Feodosia) and Yenikale could serve as shipbuilding points. The Empress highly appreciated the diligence of the sailor: in January 1769 she awarded the Order of St. Anna, on June 4 she was promoted to vice admiral.

Only by the end of June, 2 prams reached Azov and were placed to defend the fortress; patrol boats were sent from them to the mouths of the Don, Kutyurma and Kutyuremka to monitor the seashore and warn of the appearance of the enemy. The remaining 3 pramas and part of other vessels, due to shallow water, lingered at the mouth for the winter, and the boats were supposed to descend along the Don as soon as they were ready.

The precautions were not superfluous. A Turkish squadron of 4 ships, 2 transport galleys and up to 200 semi-galleys and small ships appeared at Yenikale, but shallow water delayed it. Large ships became below Kerch, and the rest, taking pilots in Yenikal, went to the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov with the intention of recapturing Azov, Taganrog and the fortress of St. Demetrius of Rostov. Having reached the Long Spit, both transport ships ran aground. One galley died, broken by bad weather, and the second was saved by the Turks, after which the squadron retired to Yenikal, and then to Constantinople.

Work on the flotilla was in full swing. In the summer, a party of sailors led by the captain of the 1st rank Pushchin compiled a map of the measurements of the Don and the Taganrog Bay. Preparations for equipping the Taganrog port have begun.

On September 28, 1769, the Admiralty Board listened to the report of General-Krigs-Commissar Selivanov that the construction of 93 planned ships (5 prams, 1 boat, 1 double-boat, 58 boats, 12 boats, 5 longboats, 11 yalbots) was completed and the last ones were ready go to the mouth of the Don. On the same day, according to a report by Senyavin, the board turned to the Senate with a proposal to assign to the local authorities the obligation to clear the fairway of the river and the banks from the forest that interferes with navigation. Senyavin also reported that navigators Ochishchinin and Tashlykov had prepared 37 sheets of maps of the Don, and promised that work on the river and the Sea of ​​Azov near Taganrog would continue in the winter.

By autumn, a smithy, part of the warehouses, 3 boathouses were equipped in Pavlovsk, and the rest were being completed. Already on September 1 and 2, 4 "newly invented ships" of the 1st and 2nd kind were laid down at the shipyard; Senyavin reported that the laying of the remaining 2 and 6 in Ikoretsk was being prepared, but slowly: there was not enough transport for the removal of timber and workers at the shipyards, and most of the available people were sick.

At the end of October, Senyavin arrived in St. Petersburg by royal decree and, based on the experience of the previous year, proposed 12 "new-style ships" to be launched along spring water unfinished, in order to have time to float them along the Don, until the river became shallow. He himself intended in the spring in the fortress of St. Demetrius of Rostov to repair the wintered ships and take their planned places, and he assigned the delivery of new ships to Selivanov. To transfer ships across the shallows, Senyavin intended to build camels, and for auxiliary purposes to buy local ships. The rear admiral asked for permission to hire local Greeks who knew the waterways as non-commissioned officers, and for the teams to build barracks ("svetlitsy") in the fortress of St. Dmitry, Azov and Troitskaya. Senyavin considered Taganrog the most suitable for basing the flotilla, although the harbor required restoration and repair. Catherine II, in a decree of November 10, approved all Senyavin's proposals; On November 12, the relevant decisions were made by the Admiralty Board.

On December 15, at the suggestion of Senyavin, the empress ordered, after the completion of the previously begun work, to make efforts to harvest timber and parts for 3-4 frigates and float them to the mouth of the Don in the spring in order to build these frigates in a convenient place. She wrote that she relies on the vice admiral's skill in maritime affairs.

Already on March 17, Sinyavin informed I. G. Chernyshev, vice-president of the Admiralty Board, that, as soon as he was ready, he began to lower new ships even without decks. The imminent cessation of the winter route prevented the timber from being brought in, but it was necessary to hurry before the river became shallow. There was another reason to hurry. In April, the Turkish fleet again approached Yenikale, which stood until June, and then retired, not daring to attack.

On May 31, Senyavin reported to the Empress that the timber for the construction of frigates had already been found. To save money, he suggested sending the harvested wood not on boudar ships (which still had to be built), but on rafts. However, the vice admiral considered the best option to establish a shipyard in the logging area in order to build hulls on the spot and transfer them to the Sea of ​​Azov, where they would complete the construction. To transfer through the shoals, he intended to expand the camels built for the "newly invented" ships. According to Senyavin, the materials needed for completion could also be sent in fused hulls. He believed that shipping by sea, although unfinished, but seaworthy ships, was more convenient than sending goods by boudars. Senyavin sent captain 1st rank Tishevsky to Khoper to look for a place for a shipyard. Chernyshev approved Senyavin's proposals.

On July 3, Senyavin reported that 10 "new manner" ships had gathered at the fortress of St. Demetrius of Rostov. Gradually they crossed the bar and walked towards Taganrog. By autumn, the commander began to organize the admiralty and port administration.

With the beginning of summer, Chernyshev asked Senyavin if it was possible to get out of Sea of ​​Azov to Black. He was interested in the possibility of diverting the attention of the Turks from the Mediterranean. The vice-admiral in response reported that, according to the questions of the Greeks and the Cossack Dryuchin, the fairway, surrounded by shoals, passes no further than half a verst from Yenikale, and it is necessary to take possession of this fortress earlier. He thought the best place for the wintering of the Kerch flotilla, which should have been occupied and strengthened. But Chernyshev continued to insist on stepping up actions, wondered if the ships of the flotilla could stay at sea, and reported on the desire of the empress to take Kerch with the flotilla and threaten the Turks on the Black Sea as far as Constantinople.

Replying to his letters, Senyavin did not promise success this year, because due to the delay in the delivery of materials and finished products for the ships under construction, he did not expect to have a equipped flotilla until next spring. He believed that he would not be able to pass through the Yenikalsky (Kerch) Strait if the army did not take Yenikale, and explained that low-sided ships were not able to stay on the high seas. He considered a breakthrough into the Black Sea generally unreasonable, for biggest problem was the return return of ships that had a supply of provisions for no more than 3 months, and water - for one and a half. Despite Chernyshev's demands, until the spring the flotilla did not have real forces and could not act offensively.

In 1770, despite Senyavin's illness, 8 "newly invented" and 2 bombardment ships, rowing ships were built at the Ikoretsk and Pavlovsk shipyards; On October 1, the construction of the Taganrog harbor began.

The fighting began in 1771. Having received a rescript dated March 7, according to which the flotilla was to support the army, provide transportation, and after the capture of Yenikale, gather there, Senyavin sent an order to Taganrog to immediately withdraw all the "newly invented" ships from the harbor and put them in order. In a letter to Chernyshev dated April 25, he wrote:

“For all my boredom and annoyance that I’m not ready yet, V.S. imagine my pleasure: I saw ships standing in front of the harbor (but where? in Taganrog) from the time of Peter The Great, that is, since 1699, has not been seen here."

Despite the shortage of sailors, which the Vice Admiral covered with soldiers, on the night of May 18, the flotilla set out on a campaign. Senyavin assigned 35 military and 2 Cossack boats of Captain Skryplev to cross the Sivash of the troops of Prince Shcherbatov's corps heading for the Crimea, and 8 "newly invented", bombardment ships and Sukhotin's dubel-boat should cover this crossing.

On June 19, Senyavin reported on his campaign along the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov. On June 13, Skryplev received an order from Major General Shcherbatov to build a bridge across the Genichesk Strait, which he did with his boats. On the morning of June 15, Senyavin, with 8 ships, set off for the Yenikal Strait, for he learned that a ten thousandth Turkish detachment had been sent on ships to the Crimea. They walked along the Crimean coast to demonstrate their flag to the enemy. On June 17, the vice-admiral led the squadron to the Yenikalsky Strait, where the troops and the bombardment ship, left at the Arabat Spit to support the army, were waiting. After 2 days, moving from the Fedotova Spit, from the squadron they saw enemy ships under the coast near the cape separating the bay from Kef (Feodosia). The vice admiral, due to bad weather, could only block their path to the Arabat Spit. Hostile fleets were at anchor. On June 20, when the sea calmed down, 10 Russian ships attacked 14 stronger enemy ships, but a squall prevented the attack from being completed. When the weather improved, the enemy was not visible. Only on June 21 did they see Turkish ships leaving to the south, to the Yenikalsky Strait. Having expelled the enemy, Senyavin anchored in the strait. While waiting for the troops to approach, he landed troops on the shore, and under his cover, the ships stocked up on water. The paratroopers fought a successful battle with the Janissaries on the shore, which was a baptism of fire for the personnel of the flotilla.

On July 2, the corps of Prince Shcherbatov occupied Kerch left by the enemy without a fight, and on July 3 - Yenikale. On July 4, the flotilla appeared on the Kerch roadstead. Senyavin immediately noticed that the artillery in Yenikal was weak and outdated, and Kerch was not fortified at all. The equipment of the base began immediately. In the narrowest part of the strait, 2 ships were placed and a battery of 5 heavy guns was built so that, in cooperation with the ships, they would not allow the enemy into the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, which became Russian. The vice-admiral, in accordance with the imperial decree, intended to settle in Yenikal. But the Russian regiments occupied the Crimea. Senyavin had to use most of the warships to supply troops and fortresses with provisions for the winter. The vice admiral sent people to film the strait. He placed a bombardier ship near Taman, and sent 2 ships to the Black Sea. Senyavin believed that without the participation of the fleet, the army could hardly have taken the fortress so easily.

Meanwhile, 2 frigates (named "First" and "Second") on July 12 and 20, respectively, arrived in Taganrog. But it took time to complete and equip these first seaworthy vessels.

After the occupation of the Crimea, the capital decided that it was time to create large fleet. The imperial rescript of August 29, 1771 ordered to find timber in the Crimea for the construction of 66-gun ships. However, there was no suitable timber in the Crimea. In the meantime, Admiral Knowles proposed his own type of frigate, convenient for building on the river. The empress refused to build battleships and ordered the construction of 2 frigates from materials prepared at Khopra according to the project of the English admiral.

In a letter dated December 20, Chernyshev informed Senyavin about the main task - the repair of all ships in order to use them at least as a defensive force in the spring and make them capable of transporting people across the Black Sea.

On December 26, 1771, Catherine II awarded Senyavin with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky for his efforts in creating the flotilla. But he didn't need to be spurred on by rewards. In 1772, new frigates and other ships were built, and crews were intensively trained. This was facilitated by a lull in Russian-Turkish war.

Meanwhile, a new plan of action on the Black Sea was being born in the capital. A. N. Senyavin was instructed to “send, as soon as the sea starts”, half of the ships to the mouth of the Danube, at the disposal of Admiral Knowles, leaving the other with him to guard the passage to the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and the Crimean coast. Senyavin himself was eager to fight. From early spring, the flotilla began to prepare for the campaign. The flagship assigned the Modon, Morea, Novopavlovsk and Zhurzha ships under the command of Captain 1st Rank Sukhotin to march to the Danube with an order to report to the command of Admiral Knowles after arriving at the mouth of the Danube. Senyavin reported this to Chernyshev. But Knowles was not ready for such a pace, and on April 18 Chernyshev wrote to Senyavin that the admiral did not want the prescribed ships to be sent to the Danube until a special request.

Meanwhile, on April 6, the Pery frigate was delivered to the roadstead of Taganrog, and on May 2, the Second was completed. Senyavin reported to the Admiralty Board that he intended to build 2 new frigates at the Novokhopersk shipyard, because it was necessary to transport timber too far on the Don. The Vice Admiral was also thinking about how to connect the Don to the Volga with the help of small rivers. On April 27, the Admiralty Board considered his proposals and maps taken on the ground. On May 3, Senyavin also reported that the masters had arrived and a place was being prepared for laying new frigates.

In May 1772, Senyavin gave Sukhotin an order to cruise from Kafa to the Yenikalsky Strait in the Black Sea, preventing enemy ships from entering the strait, and, on instructions from the commanders of the troops in the Crimea, repulse enemy raids on the shores. Another detachment was placed in the Kerch Strait before receiving an order from Sukhotin, who, if necessary, could call ships for support. If an order had been issued to go to Knowles, Sukhotin should have taken 5 ships, and left the remaining 2 in the strait in order to defend the passage to the Sea of ​​Azov together with 2 bombers.

On September 20, Senyavin gave the captain of the Taganrog port an order in which he informed that, according to the highest rescript of May 17, Kerch and Yenikale were chosen for basing the fleet and the ships would come there for the winter, and therefore ordered to send Captain Ivkov and the necessary craftsmen to Kerch as a captain over the port, materials , supplies for the correction of ships and shipmaster Lieutenant Colonel Afanasyev.

On October 4, Chernyshev informed Senyavin in a letter that recruiting would begin on November 1 (1 recruit with 150 souls), and since the staff of the flotilla was separated, 895 recruits were assigned for it. But this was clearly not enough due to the growing size of the flotilla and the large loss of people. On September 27, Skryplev reported to Chernyshev that the contagious disease that began in May did not stop and claimed more than 600 lives, which almost stopped the construction of the harbor, the admiralty and the second frigate. He asked to be dismissed due to illness. Senyavin also wrote about stopping work due to illness. The alarmed Chernyshev, in a letter on November 6, suggested that Senyavin personally deal with diseases in Taganrog. On November 29, the vice-admiral from Yenikale announced that in order to eliminate diseases, it was necessary to remove the commandant of Taganrog Zhedr, replacing him with an engineering colonel Zbrodovsky. He replaced Skryplev with Captain Tolubyov.

The flotilla operated until the end of the year, cruising and delivering supplies for the army in the Crimea. In winter, Senyavin went to St. Petersburg, leaving Sukhotin in command of the flotilla. In February 1773, Senyavin most faithfully reported that out of 58 military boats, 28 were lost, the rest were dilapidated, and asked for permission to build 4 galliots to replace them to transport goods to the Crimea. The Empress approved his proposal.

In winter, the flotilla faced new difficulties. On February 1, the ice in the strait was broken, the wintering ships were torn off and carried away for 3-4 versts. Only on February 6 did they manage to return them to the anchorage, except for the Khotyn ship, which turned out to be 6 versts away. Fortunately, the ships suffered little. Senyavin himself went south on March 12 and, "following day and night", arrived on March 29 in Novokhopersk. On April 6, he reported from the Novokhopersk shipyard that it was due to winter weather. the armament of the ships in Kerch was not completed and, having made orders to launch the frigates, he went on. By the time the armistice ended, the vice-admiral intended to send a frigate and 4-5 newly invented ships to the Black Sea to Kerch and Balaklava, and in April, having received provisions from Taganrog, send the rest. When hostilities resumed in the spring of 1773, the flotilla consisted of 2 frigates, 10 "newly invented" ships of various kinds, transport and light ships. Its main tasks were the defense of the Crimea from enemy landings and the protection of the Kerch Strait.

By order of Senyavin, Sukhotin, after opening the ice, put bombardment ships in the narrowness of the strait, sent 3 ships under the command of Lieutenant Commander Baskakov on March 27 to cruising, and hurried to arm the frigate and another ship. Rear Admiral Baranov arrived at the Taganrog port, and on April 10, Senyavin ordered him to take command of the squadron at sea. But soon the rear admiral died, and Sukhotin took command. Chernyshev sent Captain 2nd Rank Kinsbergen to reinforce the flotilla and offered to entrust him with the command of a frigate and a small squadron.

In fact, Senyavin's forces were divided into 3 squadrons. The squadron of captain 2nd rank Kinsbergen from a frigate, 2 ships and a deck boat was supposed to cruise from Kafa (Feodosia) to Balaklava, the squadron of captain 1st rank Sukhotin from a frigate, 4 ships, 2 boats - from Kafa to Sudzhuk-Kale (Novorossiysk ). The third squadron of 4 ships guarded the Kerch Strait. Sick Senyavin left behind the defense of the strait. In the event of the appearance of Turkish ships from Sujuk-Kale, the Vice Admiral intended to attack them with the combined forces of two cruising squadrons.

In the summer, both Russian squadrons delivered several blows to the Turks. On May 29 and 30, Sukhotin's ships discovered and destroyed several ships off the coast of Taman. On June 23, Captain 2nd Rank Johann Heinrich Kinsbergen near Balaklava with two 12-gun ships attacked Turkish 3 52-gun frigates and a 25-gun shebeka, forcing the superior enemy to retreat with losses.

On August 27, Senyavin received information from Taman that 110 enemy ships with a landing force had arrived in Sujuk-kale. The vice-admiral crossed on the frigate "First" to the mouth of the strait and, at the first favorable wind, was going to go with a detachment of ships and the called squadron of Kinsbergen. In the strait, he left a bombardment ship and 2 boats to transport provisions from Kozlov to Yalta and Belbek.

On August 23, Kinsbergen with a frigate, 3 ships, a boat and a firewall approached 1.5 versts to Sudzhuk-Kala; soon 18 ships were discovered, among them 3 battleships, 4 frigates and 3 shebeks, 8 transports, preparing to land troops. Kinsbergen attacked, fought a gun-artillery battle with the enemy for 2 hours, forced the enemy to flee under the guns of the fortress and frustrated the enemy's plans. Damage did not allow to pursue the superior enemy, and the captain turned to the strait to join the main forces.

On August 31, Senyavin unified command of the squadrons and on September 1, with 2 frigates, 5 ships, 1 bombardier went to the Kyzyltash pier, but noticed only boats running up the Kuban. On September 2-4, they tacked to Sudzhuk-Kala. On the morning of September 5, the Russians weighed anchor and around noon saw enemy ships under sail east of Sudzhuk near the Abaza Mountains. Senyavin built a squadron and moved closer. The Turkish squadron (5 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 shebeks, 1 galley, 1 transport) was heading towards Anatolia, raising as many sails as possible; despite the superiority of forces, the Turks evaded the battle. The Russians tried to chase until dark, at night they lay down to drift, and in the morning the enemy was no longer visible. On September 7, we arrived at the Sudzhuk Bay, but did not see ships, except for small boats. On September 8, the squadron set off for the shores of the Crimea, again examined the Kyzyltash pier, did not find military ships and returned to the strait. Having sent the detachment to cruise, the flagship began preparing the next campaign.

On October 11, Senyavin reported to the Admiralty Board that he had been to Balaklava, examined the Novopavlovsk and Modon, made sure that it was necessary to change the skin eaten by worms, but in the Crimea there were no boards, no nails, no timber for the masts, and everything necessary should have been delivered from Taganrog, that is, before August 1774 it was impossible to fix the ships. Therefore, he ordered the removal of most of the crews to complete the existing ships.

At the end of January 1774, Rear Admiral V. Ya. Chichagov arrived at Senyavin; the naval commander sent him to the Crimea to prepare the ships for the campaign. Winter time was not wasted. On March 15, Senyavin reported to the Empress that a squadron under the command of Chichagov had been sent from the Sea of ​​Azov to the Black Sea to cover the Kerch Strait and the Crimean coast from landings; a bombardment ship and batteries on the shore remained in the strait, while the ships that wintered in Balaklava were supposed to cover convoys to Yalta and Kozlov. They were waiting for the arrival of new frigates being built on the Don. So far, the superiority remained on the side of the Turks.

On June 9, a strong Turkish fleet tried to pass to the Kerch Strait, but a small detachment of Chichagov forced the enemy to retreat and stood in the strait, blocking the path of the Turks, who came the next morning in large forces. On June 16, Senyavin, having received a report from Chichagov, arrived at the squadron on June 23 and observed the Turkish camp on the other side. The Vice Admiral was expecting a landing force. And indeed, on June 28, the Turks tried to enter the strait, but the Russian ships did not allow them. The confrontation continued for another two weeks, and the Turkish forces increased to 73 units due to transport and rowing vessels. For July 12-13, troops from

of the Taman Peninsula were loaded onto ships. Senyavin was afraid of an enemy attack. However, the Turks, having missed the transports beyond the line of warships, left on the evening of July 16, and the vice admiral sent 2 frigates and a ship to cruise, leaving the main forces in the strait.

It soon became clear why the Turks left the Kerch Strait. While one squadron blocked the Don Flotilla, the second landed troops in the Yalta-Sudak region, which caused an uprising Crimean Tatars. A small detachment of Kinsbergen from a frigate and a boat (the rest of his ships changed the skin worn out by worms) could not prevent the enemy. Khan Sahib-Girey perceived the landing of the Turkish seraskir as a signal of the restoration of Turkish power. The small army of V. M. Dolgorukov could not contain the rebels.

Fortunately, on July 10, 1774, the Kyuchuk-Kainarji peace ended the war. But the political struggle did not subside. Already in the summer of 1774, the Turkish Divan headed for the revision of the terms of the contract through the mediation of England and Prussia; the Turks counted on the pliability of Russia, which was in a difficult position. Catherine II refused to discuss concessions. The capture of Bukovina by Austria and the conflict between Turkey and Persia, the deplorable state of finances forced the Turkish government to abandon its demands and ratify the treaty on October 21. On January 13, 1775, the instruments of ratification were exchanged in Constantinople.

These political events determined the tasks of the Don Flotilla, which had to stay near the Kerch Strait until late autumn. On October 22, Senyavin reported that, according to information from V. M. Dolgorukov, the Tatars were calm, the Turkish troops had left the Crimea and Haj Ali Pasha, who commanded them, was leaving in order to send the ships for repairs before the frost. Senyavin ordered Chichagov, leaving all 4 frigates with 5 deck boats at the strait under the command of Captain 1st Rank A.P. Koslivtsev, with the rest to go to Taganrog.

There were other issues to deal with as well. Catherine sought to secure Russia's right to navigate the Black Sea and on September 27 asked Senyavin about the possibility of converting warships in trading. The vice admiral, explaining the unprofitability of altering the frigates (except for the last two), offered 4 newly built galliots for the trading service. After a discussion in the capital, on January 5, 1775, the empress sent a rescript to the flotilla commander about her intention to organize a useful voyage along the Black Sea and summoned Senyavin and Chichagov to Moscow to discuss this issue. Apparently, it was supposed to go not only to the merchant fleet, but also to the navy on the Black Sea.

Under the peace treaty, Russia received the right to navigate the Black and Marmara Seas. This right needed protection, and at the beginning of 1775, A. N. Senyavin reported to the Admiralty Board his thoughts on strengthening the fleet in the southern seas. The proposals were approved. By the end of the year, the number of ships in the flotilla increased to 32, and construction continued.

Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, they came to the conclusion that the shallow Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov could not become the stronghold of a large fleet. Senyavin, on behalf of the board, visited the Dnieper and the Bug in November 1775 and proposed building a port at the Deep Pier. Already in December, Catherine II indicated that measures should be taken to build 20 large ships. The initial design of the port and shipyards took place with the participation of Senyavin, who on October 7 was promoted to admiral.

A long overload affected Senyavin's health, the disease took its toll, and in the summer of 1776 he received a vacation. Since the disease did not stop, others had to develop the Azov Flotilla further and create the Black Sea Fleet.

Senyavin did not break away from the fleet even outside the combat service. He visited ships, corresponded with sailors, developed a way to protect the bottoms of ships from woodworms. On December 20, 1787, during the distribution of posts in the fleet, he was appointed to command the 1st Naval Division. But the state of health did not allow the admiral to take part in the Russian-Swedish war: in the summer of 1788 he was dismissed. On August 28, 1794, the sailor returned to serve in the Admiralty College, but not for long: on August 10, 1797, he died.

Admiral A.N. Senyavin died almost two centuries ago. His comrades-in-arms and students have passed away. But the Azov flotilla founded by them more than once engaged in battle with enemies, defending the borders of the fatherland.

Admirals Russian Empire made a huge contribution to the formation of our state. They are a vivid example for posterity who remember the heroic contribution of these great people.

One of them is Dmitry Nikolaevich Senyavin. This is a Russian admiral who once commanded the Baltic Fleet. Glory was brought to him by the victory of the Second Archipelago Expedition over the Turks in and also at the Dardanelles, at the head of which he was. No less important in the biography of Senyavin is the fact that he, being in the rank of flag-captain, supervised the first construction work on the construction of a fortress city, which a year later, from February 1783, became known as Sevastopol.

Family

Dmitry Nikolaevich Senyavin was born according to the new style on August 6, and according to the old style on August 17, 1763 in the village of Komlevo, which was located in the Borovsky district of the Kaluga region. His family belonged to the well-known in the country noble family, the fate of whose representatives was inextricably linked with the Russian fleet from the very beginning of its foundation.

The father of the future admiral, Nikolai Fedorovich, was a retired prime minister. For some time he served as an adjutant general, serving with Alexei Naumovich Senyavin, who was his cousin.

The noble family, to which the future admiral belonged, had its roots in the very revival of the Russian fleet. So, the grandfather of the famous naval commander, Ivan Akimovich, served as a boatswain under Peter I. Under him, he rose to the rank of rear admiral.

An equally brilliant career was made by his brother Naum Akimovich, who distinguished himself in 1719 in battles with the Swedes near the island of Ezel. Dmitry Nikolayevich's father in the 1770s was the military governor of Kronstadt, rising to the rank of vice admiral. When the boy was ten years old, the parent personally took him to the Marine cadet corps. There he left his son.

Study and start of service

In the Naval Cadet Corps of the future Admiral D.N. Senyavin was enrolled in 1773. In his studies, he showed great abilities, thanks to which he graduated from this institution one of the first. Already at the age of 14, in the November days of 1777, the young man was promoted to midshipmen. In this rank, he sailed for three years, having managed to participate in several campaigns.

Admiral Senyavin spoke a lot about the time of his studies in the corps and about the beginning of his service in his later memoirs. In these descriptions, the marine life that existed during the time of Ochakov and the conquest of the Crimean peninsula was betrayed. The old man's memories were somewhat idealized. For example, he claimed that in those years “everyone was ruddy and cheerful, and now you can see around you only despondency, bile and pallor.”

Admiral Senyavin was an ardent supporter of Suvorov's science, and, tuning in only to victory, he always relied on the "spirit of the Russian warrior", which allows him to overcome all sorts of obstacles.

The biographer described the admiral as "mild-tempered and modest, demanding and strict in service", indicating that Senyavin was loved like a father and respected as a fair boss.

Career advancement

Admiral Senyavin, whose biography is inextricably linked with the sea, served as a midshipman until 1780. After that, he managed to pass the exam and became a midshipman. In this rank, he first went on his long voyage to Lisbon. The purpose of the campaign was to support the armed neutrality of Empress Catherine II, which was associated with the war for independence, which was fought in the North American colonies.

But still, the main expeditions of Admiral Senyavin took place in the basins of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Already in 1782, the young midshipman was transferred to the Khotyn corvette, located in the Azov fleet. A year later he received the rank of lieutenant. During the construction of a new Russian naval base (Sevastopol), Senyavin, who was in the position of a flag officer, was the closest assistant to Admiral Mackenzie. It was then that he was noticed by the Governor-General of Novorossia, who was Prince Potemkin. The future admiral was engaged in construction issues until 1786. After he was transferred to a floating train, he was appointed commander of a packet boat called "Karabut", which maintained relations with the Russian ambassador in Turkey.

Rapid career growth

In 1787 - 1791, the future Admiral Senyavin was under the command of Ushakov. In the same period, when Russia was at war with the Turks, he had to go through a harsh military school. At the very beginning of hostilities, he was a flag captain, serving in the Voinovich squadron. Already on June 3, 1788, the Black Sea Fleet won at about. Fidonisi. In this battle, Ushakov, who led the Russian avant-garde, especially distinguished himself.

At that moment, when a sufficiently strong Turkish fleet was trying to help Ochakov besieged by the Russians from the sea, Senyavin was sent with five cruisers to the shores of Anatolia. The purpose of our sailors was to divert the attention of the Turks and disrupt their communications. Historians report that already here Senyavin showed extraordinary abilities. Carrying out his first independent actions, he managed to take several prizes and destroy a dozen Turkish ships.
Senyavin also took part in the battle of Kaliakria. It was the last in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787 - 1791.

Such successful actions contributed to the fact that Senyavin was appointed to command the ship "Leonty Martyr". After he began to lead the vessel "Vladimir". Already in the 4th year of the war (in 1791), he was the commander of the Navarchia ship, which was part of Ushakov's squadron.

Battles with the French

After the completion of hostilities with Senyavin, he continued command of the battleship, which was part of Ushakov's squadron. On August 13, 1798, the Mediterranean Russian fleet left Sevastopol. He went to Constantinople to connect with the ships of Turkey. This squadron set out to fight the French.

Ushakov's first target was the Ionian Islands. They needed to be freed from the French army in order to create a squadron base here.

The most protected of all the islands were Santa Maura and Corfu. To take the first of them was received by Senyavin, who, being in command of the ship "St. Peter". The frigate "Navarchia" helped him in this, as well as two ships of the Turks. Senyavin coped with the task entrusted to him successfully. The fortress of Santa Maura fell on 2 November. In his report on the capture of the island, Ushakov gave a positive assessment of the actions taken by Senyavin.

After the siege, Russian sailors took Corfu, as well as other Ionian Islands. After that, they liberated Rome and the Kingdom of Naples from the French.

New appointments

Ushakov's squadron returned to Sevastopol in 1800. Senyavin, who distinguished himself in battles, was appointed to command the port of Kherson. In the same position since 1803, he began to serve in Sevastopol. A year later, Senyavin was appointed naval commander and transferred to Revel. Here he was until 1805. In the same year he was put in command of the Russian squadron, which was sent to Sevastopol to carry out a new combat mission.

Senyavin's career in the early 19th century

After Russia at the end of the 18th century. was able to win a number of victories, under the leadership of her troops by the great commander Suvorov and the remarkable naval commander Ushakov, her influence on European affairs and international significance increased significantly.
In the same period, there was a struggle between England and France, who embarked on the capitalist path of development. These countries fought for world domination. At the same time, the aggressive policy of Napoleon began to threaten the interests of Russia. This led to the aggravation of contradictions between the great states.

Since 1804, Russia has taken a number of measures aimed at concentrating forces in the Mediterranean. She increased the number of warships and transferred from Sevastopol to about. Corfu Infantry Division.

In the spring of 1805, Russia and England concluded an agreement between themselves, which approved the joint actions of the states directed against France. This union also included Naples and Austria.

In September 1805, a Russian squadron headed by D.N. was sent to the Archipelago from Krondshtat. Senyavin, who had previously been promoted to vice admiral. The expedition arrived safely in Corfu. Here Senyavin took command of the Russian land and maritime forces in the mediterranean. The main task of the vice admiral concerned the protection of the Ionian Islands, which served as the base of the Russian fleet, as well as preventing the capture of Greece by Napoleon.

Almost immediately, Senyavin began to take active steps. They occupied Montenegro, as well as the region of Cattaro. In order to win over the locals, the regions occupied by the Russians were, by his order, freed from all kinds of duties. In addition, under the leadership of Senyavin, the escort of ships bound for Constantinople and Trieste was organized, which greatly intensified trade in these areas.

In December 1806, Türkiye, instigated by Napoleon, decided to declare war on Russia. And already in early January of the following year, a new squadron was sent to Corfu, commanded by Captain-Commander Ignatiev.

A trip to the Aegean

From Russia, Admiral Senyavin received instructions from which it followed that his task was to capture Constantinople, blockade Egypt, protect Corfu, and also prevent communication between France and Turkey. If the admiral had blindly followed all the instructions, then he would certainly have been defeated, spraying the forces at his disposal. Senyavin made the right decision, leaving part of his army to defend Corfu, leaving with the remaining troops to the Archipelago to solve the main task. In February 1807, his squadron went to the waters of the Aegean Sea. In order to ensure the surprise of his actions, Senyavin ordered to detain all merchant ships that he met on his way. Thus, no one could warn the enemy about the approach of the Russian squadron.

Battle for the Dardanelles

The Russian government hoped that the British would go to the aid of Senyavin by pushing Admiral Duckworth's squadron into the Aegean. This, however, did not happen. The British, who tried to prevent events, decided to capture Constantinople before the Russians did. In February 1807, the Misty Albion squadron passed the Dardanelles and appeared near Constantinople. The British began to negotiate with the Turks, during which the latter managed to significantly strengthen themselves in the strait. Duckworth left the coastal waters of Constantinople, suffering heavy losses during his retreat.

At the time when Senyavin approached the Dardanelles, they were heavily fortified. His combat mission was very complicated. Dukworth did not come to the aid of our squadron, going to Malta.

After that, a military council was assembled by the Russian admiral, who decided not to do anything except blockade the Dardanelles. To create a mobile base, Russian troops captured the fortress of Tenedos, which was located on a nearby island. After that, the blockade of the Dardanelles began. It was a duty of two ships near the strait, which did not allow merchant ships to enter the fortress. All these actions caused famine in Constantinople and discontent of its inhabitants. To lift the blockade, the Turks sent their fleet into the strait.

The Battle of the Dardanelles took place on May 10, 1807. Our squadron, taking advantage of the southwestern gusts favorable for it, headed for rapprochement with the enemy. The Turkish fleet did not want to accept the battle and went to the Dardanelles. By eight o'clock in the evening, the Russian squadron caught up with the enemy, entering into battle with him. Russian ships, the number of which was much smaller, perfectly maneuvered. They did not adhere to a single formation and used fire simultaneously from both sides. In the darkness of the night, Turkish batteries fired shots not only at the Russians. Sometimes they got into their ships. The battle lasted until midnight. As a result, 3 enemy ships, which could not move due to severe damage, stuck to the shallows, and the rest managed to slip into the Dardanelles.

At dawn on May 11, the Turks began towing their damaged ships. At the same time, Senyavin was ordered to attack enemy ships. Only one of them managed to slip into the Dardanelles. The other two were thrown ashore by the Turks. This ended the battle of the Dardanelles, which disabled three Turkish warships. The losses of the enemy in manpower at the same time reached 2000 people.
The blockade of the Dardanelles led to a complete cessation of food supplies to Constantinople. The discontent of the local population intensified, as a result of which a coup took place that overthrew Selim III, after which Sultan Mustafa IV gained power.

The defeat of the Turkish fleet was also inflicted in the battle of Athos, which took place on 06/19/1807. Here Senyavin used latest ways combat, using wake column attacks, an attack on one enemy ship by two Russians, etc. For the courage shown, the naval commander was awarded the honorary order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

Return to the Baltic

On August 12, 1807, Türkiye, struck at sea, was forced to sign a truce. According to the peace treaty of Tilsit, Alexander I ceded the Dalmatian and Ionian Islands to Napoleon. In addition, Türkiye received back its island of Theodos. Upon learning of this, Dmitry Nikolaevich could not hold back his tears. Such an agreement crossed out all the victories of the Russian fleet. Soon his squadron returned to their homeland. Senyavin was sent to the Baltic.

During the war with Napoleon, Senyavin commanded the Revel squadron, which patrolled off the English coast. The naval commander considered this inaction. He wrote a report about the transfer, but it remained unanswered. In 1813, Vice-Admiral Senyavin resigned, receiving only half his pension. The family of Dmitry Nikolaevich suffered financial difficulties.

But everything changed after Nicholas I came to power. Senyavin returned to the service. The tsar appointed him a personal adjutant general, transferring him later to the commander of the Baltic Fleet. Senyavin was promoted to admiral in 1826. And the very next year he was awarded diamond badges. This happened after the victory of the joint squadron of Russia, France and England over the Turkish-Egyptian ships in

In 1830, Dmitry Nikolayevich became seriously ill. On April 5, 1831, he died. The funeral of the Russian admiral was very solemn. The command of the honorary escort of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, when giving the last honors to Senyavin, was carried out by Nicholas I himself.

Memory

Admirals of the Russian Empire are not forgotten by grateful descendants. The memory of Dmitry Nikolaevich Senyavin lives in our hearts.

So, the sea is named after him technical college. This educational institution, whose history began on June 8, 1957, is located in St. Petersburg. At the beginning of its activity, it was a factory training school. Today it is the Maritime Technical College. Admiral D.N. Senyavin, which trains specialists with primary and secondary professional education, for fishing, river and sea fleet.

in the waters Pacific Ocean from 1954 to 1989 the cruiser "Admiral Senyavin" served. It was a light ship built according to the 68 bis project.

Depicted by D.N. Senyavin at the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia". It is located in Novgorod, in the very center of its Kremlin. This is a unique monument, which has no analogues in the world. It was not put up in honor of one event and is dedicated to more than one person. He tells the descendants about the whole millennium and perpetuates the memory of the whole people. The idea of ​​creating this monument belongs to Alexander II. In total, 109 figures are depicted on the monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia" statesmen, heroes and military, educators and masters of art, who were personally approved by the king.

Anyone who at least once in his life sees this colossal mass of metal in the form of a silent bell will never be able to forget about it. Just as the exploits of those Russian people who faithfully served for the good of their Fatherland are not forgotten.

military fleets.

Alexey Naumovich Senyavin
Artist Rokotov F.S. 1770s
Date of Birth	October 5(1722-10-05 )
Date of death	11th August(1797-08-11 ) (74 years old)
A place of death	Saint Petersburg
Affiliation	Russian empire Russian empire
Type of army	Russian imperial fleet
Years of service	1734-1788
Rank	admiral
commanded	Don military flotilla, Azov military flotilla
Battles/wars	Russian-Turkish war (1735-1739) Russo-Swedish war (1741-1743) Seven Years' War, Russian-Turkish war (1768-1774)
Awards and prizes
Connections	father Naum Akimovich Senyavin

Biography

Origin

Service

Alexei Naumovich, in respect of his father's merits, began his service in the Navy right from the midshipman's rank on September 5, 1734. In 1735-1739, being an adjutant to his father, he took part in the Russian-Turkish war. At the end of the war, he was transferred to the Baltic Fleet and fought against the Swedes in 1741-1743. Senyavin's next campaign was the Seven Years' War, where he, commanding battleship"St. Pavel ”, distinguished himself in 1760 during the naval blockade of the Kolberg fortress. In 1762, Senyavin, being in the rank of captain of the 1st rank, retired.

All the brilliant activity of the admiral, as the best sailor of his time, belongs to the reign of Empress Catherine II.

Called back to service in 1766 as Treasurer General of the Admiralty, Senyavin was promoted to rear admiral two years later. On November 9, 1768, on the occasion of the outbreak of the war against the Turks, the Empress instructed him to organize the Don expedition with the task of building various types of ships at the old Peter's shipyards on the Don, which could then operate on the Azov and Black Seas. The order, which required speed and special ingenuity, led to the revival of the Don (Azov) flotilla, whose task was to provide active assistance to the ground forces, which soon began hostilities in the Black Sea and Crimea. In 1769, Senyavin was promoted to vice admiral, he was also entrusted with the restoration of Taganrog.

For the best success of a maritime enterprise, it was necessary to choose a type of military vessels that would meet both the local conditions of navigation in shallow waters and combat requirements, because the experiences of previous years in this respect were unsatisfactory. Such a new kind of ships, called "newly invented ships", and connecting all the required conditions, was built by 1771 on the Don and, fused to Taganrog, helped the capture of the Crimea by our troops; for these works Senyavin was in 1771 awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

In 1773, Senyavin, with the flotilla entrusted to him, had already acted so successfully against the Turks at sea that he forever closed the entrance to the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov for enemy ships by occupying the Yeni-Kale and Kerch fortresses. The following year, 1774, with a flotilla stationed at the Kerch Strait, he repulsed the attack of the Turkish naval fleet, and despite the extreme inequality of forces, forced him to retreat with damage.

Thus, under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainarji peace concluded this year, thanks to the assistance of the Don Flotilla, Azov and Taganrog were returned to Russia and Kerch and Yenikale were given, which opened the entrance to the Black Sea for Russian ships.

In 1775, after the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, a need arose for a shipyard on the Black Sea to build a full-fledged navy. To determine the place, an expedition was organized, which was led by Senyavin. It was he who chose the place for the founding of Kherson and proposed to build ship hulls, under the cover of the Alexander-Shantz fortification, and after that, lowering them into the Dnieper-Bug estuary, equipping them with guns, masts and rigging. So they built ships in the Kherson Admiralty, until its liquidation in 1827.

The awards for the labors and merits of Senyavin were his promotion to admiral on July 10, 1775, as well as the award of the orders of St. Anna 1st degree, St. Andrew the First-Called (1794) and St. Vladimir 1st degree (1795).

In 1788, due to the hard work and serious illness, he was dismissed from service, but in 1794, after recovering, he entered again, with an appointment to attend the Admiralty College.

Died August 11, 1797 in St. Petersburg, buried at the Lazarevsky cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra; in the 1870s, his ashes were transferred there to the Tikhvin cemetery. On the grave there is a marble column topped with an urn with a flame. On the board is the following epitaph, composed by the future St. Petersburg vice-governor S. N. Zavalievsky:

"Here, under the sim stone,
The glorious admiral lies,
Who did not like flattery, despised deceit,
Senyavin is valiant, the leader is wise, merciful,
The immortal temple that left itself in reverence,
Friend of mankind, friend of true righteousness.
Passerby, pray for him to the Creator and you!”

Foundation of Taganrog

Catherine II wrote: “We are giving the Taganrog harbor completely to the department of Vice Admiral Senyavin in order to put it in such a state that it can serve as a refuge for ships, and for building them, and even more so galleys and other ships ... and so that in the future campaign of 1770, the flotilla could already winter in it ... "In a personal letter to A. N. Senyavin, the empress clarifies the tasks for 1770:" The main object of the next year on the Sea of ​​​​Azov, it seems, should be to close the newly built fortresses in order to attack Kerch and Taman and take possession of these fortresses, in order to get the sound (strait) of the Black Sea into their own hands, and then our ships will freely cruise to the very Tsaregrad Canal and to the mouth of the Danube.

At the end of April 1771, A.N. Senyavin informs the President of the Admiralty Board, Count I.G. (Yes, where is it? In Taganrog!) Vessels under the military Russian imperial flag, which since the time of Peter the Great ... have not been seen here.” And at the end of May 1771, under the command of Senyavin there were already 21 ships with 450 guns and 3300 crew members. In June, the Azov flotilla supported the capture of Perekop, the fortresses of Kerch and Yeni-Kale, repelled attempts by the Turkish fleet to block the advance of the Russians along the eastern coast of Crimea, and provided other actions for the army of General V. M. Dolgorukov

Filas V.N. Fire in the Main Rowing Port of the Baltic Fleet in 1796 (an episode from the life of Admiral A.N. Senyavin) // Dagger: fleet, history, people. - St. Petersburg, 2011. - No. 11. - P. 3-8.

Alexey Naumovich Senyavin(Sinyavin; October 5, 1722 - August 11, 1797) - Russian admiral from the Senyavin family, commander of the Don and Azov military flotillas.

Biography

Origin

Born October 5, 1722. The son of Peter's vice-admiral Naum Akimovich Sinyavin (1680-1738) and Nenilla Fedorovna Yazykova (1688-1738), cousin uncle of the admiral and member of the State Council Dmitry Nikolayevich Senyavin.

Service

Alexei Naumovich, in respect of his father's merits, began his service in the Navy right from the midshipman's rank on September 5, 1734. In 1735-1739, being an adjutant to his father, he took part in the Russian-Turkish war. At the end of the war, he was transferred to the Baltic Fleet and fought against the Swedes in 1741-1743. Senyavin's next campaign was the Seven Years' War, where he, commanding the battleship St. Pavel ”, distinguished himself in 1760 during the naval blockade of the Kolberg fortress. In 1762, Senyavin, being in the rank of captain of the 1st rank, retired.

All the brilliant activity of the admiral, as the best sailor of his time, belongs to the reign of Empress Catherine II.

Called up again in 1766 as Treasurer General of the Admiralty, Senyavin was promoted to rear admiral two years later. On November 9, 1768, on the occasion of the outbreak of the war against the Turks, the Empress instructed him to organize the Don expedition with the task of building various types of ships at the old Peter's shipyards on the Don, which could then operate on the Azov and Black Seas. The order, which required speed and special ingenuity, led to the revival of the Don (Azov) flotilla, whose task was to provide active assistance to the ground forces, which soon began hostilities in the Black Sea and Crimea. In 1769, Senyavin was promoted to vice admiral, he was also entrusted with the restoration of Taganrog.

For the best success of a maritime enterprise, it was necessary to choose a type of military vessels that would meet both the local conditions of navigation in shallow waters and combat requirements, because the experiences of previous years in this respect were unsatisfactory. Such a new kind of ships, called "newly invented ships", and combining all the required conditions, was built by 1771 on the Don and, fused to Taganrog, helped our troops seize the Crimea; for these works Senyavin was in 1771 awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

In 1773, Senyavin, with the flotilla entrusted to him, had already acted so successfully against the Turks at sea that he forever blocked the enemy ships from entering the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov by occupying the Yeni-Kale and Kerch fortresses. The following year, 1774, with a flotilla stationed at the Kerch Strait, he repulsed the attack of the Turkish naval fleet, and despite the extreme inequality of forces, forced him to retreat with damage.

Thus, under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainarji peace concluded this year, thanks to the assistance of the Don Flotilla, Azov and Taganrog were returned to Russia and Kerch and Yenikale were given, which opened the entrance to Russian ships Black Sea.

In 1775, after the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, a need arose for a shipyard on the Black Sea to build a full-fledged navy. To determine the place, an expedition was organized, which was led by Senyavin. It was he who chose the place for the founding of Kherson and proposed to build ship hulls, under the cover of the Alexander-Shantz fortification, and after that, lowering them into the Dnieper-Bug estuary, equipping them with guns, masts and rigging. So they built ships in the Kherson Admiralty, until its liquidation in 1827.

The awards for the labors and merits of Senyavin were his promotion to admiral on July 10, 1775, as well as the award of the orders of St. Anna 1st degree, St. Andrew the First-Called (1794) and St. Vladimir 1st degree (1795).

In 1788, due to the hard work and serious illness, he was dismissed from service, but in 1794, after recovering, he entered again, with an appointment to attend the Admiralty College.

Origin

Born October 5, 1722. The son of the famous Petrovsky admiral Naum Akimovich Sinyavin (1680-1738) and Nenilla Fedorovna Yazykova (1688-1738), cousin uncle of the admiral and member of the State Council Dmitry Nikolaevich Senyavin.

Service

Alexei Naumovich, in respect of his father's merits, began his service in the Navy right from the midshipman's rank on September 5, 1734. In 1735-1739, being an adjutant to his father, he took part in the Russian-Turkish war. At the end of the war, he was transferred to the Baltic Fleet and fought against the Swedes in 1741-1743. Senyavin's next campaign was the Seven Years' War, where he, commanding the battleship St. Pavel ”, distinguished himself in 1760 during the naval blockade of the Kolberg fortress. In 1762, Senyavin, being in the rank of captain of the 1st rank, retired.

All the brilliant activity of the admiral, as the best sailor of his time, belongs to the reign of Empress Catherine II.

Again called to serve in 1766, first as Treasurer-General of the Admiralty, Senyavin was renamed Rear Admirals two years later, and on the occasion of the military operations being prepared against the Turks, the Empress entrusted him with an important assignment: to lay at the old Peter's shipyards along the Don River various types of vessels that could be rafted to the Azov and Black Seas. The assignment, which required speed and special ingenuity, led to the revival of the Don Flotilla, whose task was to provide, in the first case, more active assistance to our ground forces, which soon began hostilities along the coasts of the Crimean Peninsula. In 1769 he was promoted to vice admiral.

For the best success of a maritime enterprise, it was necessary to choose a type of military vessels that would meet both the local conditions of navigation in shallow waters and combat requirements, because the experiences of previous years in this respect were unsatisfactory. Such a new kind of ships, called "newly invented ships", and combining all the required conditions, was built by 1771 on the Don and, fused to Taganrog, helped our troops seize the Crimea; for these works he was in 1771 awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

In 1773, Senyavin, with the flotilla entrusted to him, had already acted so successfully against the Turks at sea that he forever closed the entrance to the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov for enemy ships by occupying the fortresses of Yeni-Kale and Kerch.

In the following year, 1774, with a flotilla stationed at the Kerch Strait, he repulsed the attack of the Turkish naval fleet, and despite the extreme inequality of forces, forced him to retreat with damage.

Thus, under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainarji peace concluded this year, thanks to the assistance of the Don Flotilla, Azov and Taganrog were returned to Russia and Kerch and Yenikale were given, which opened the entrance to the Black Sea for our ships. The cherished dream of Peter the Great came true.

Catherine II wrote: “We are giving the Taganrog harbor completely to the department of Vice Admiral Senyavin in order to put it in such a state that it can serve as a refuge for ships, and for building them, and even more so galleys and other ships ... and so that in the future campaign of 1770 the flotilla could already winter in it ... " In a personal letter to A. N. Senyavin, the empress clarifies the tasks for 1770: make an attack on Kerch and Taman and take possession of these fortresses, in order to get the sound (strait) of the Black Sea into their own hands and then our ships will be free to cruise to the very Tsaregrad Canal and to the mouth of the Danube.

At the end of April 1771, A. N. Senyavin informed the President of the Admiralty Board, Count I. G. Chernyshev: (Yes, where is it? In Taganrog!) Vessels under the military Russian imperial flag, which has not been seen here since the time of Peter the Great. And at the end of May 1771, under the command of Senyavin there were already 21 ships with 450 guns and 3300 crew members. In June, the Azov flotilla supported the capture of Perekop, the fortresses of Kerch and Yeni-Kale, repelled attempts by the Turkish fleet to block the advance of the Russians along the eastern coast of Crimea, and provided other actions for the army of General V. I. Dolgorukov. In the same year, the flotilla moved from Taganrog to Kerch, and the construction of warships was transferred to Kherson, and Taganrog turned into a merchant port city.

The rewards of Senyavin's incredible labors were his promotion to admiral on July 10, 1775, as well as the award of the orders of St. Anna 1st degree, St. Andrew the First-Called (1794) and St. Vladimir 1st degree (1795).

In 1788, due to the hard work and serious illness, he was dismissed from service, but in 1794, after recovering, he entered again, with an appointment to attend the Admiralty College.

He died on August 11, 1797 in St. Petersburg, was buried at the Lazarevsky cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra; in the 1870s, his ashes were transferred there to the Tikhvin cemetery. On the grave there is a marble column topped with an urn with a flame. On the board is the following epitaph, composed by the future St. Petersburg vice-governor S. N. Zavalievsky:

"Here, under the sim stone,
The glorious admiral lies,
Who did not like flattery, despised deceit,
Senyavin is valiant, the leader is wise, merciful,
The immortal temple that left itself in reverence,
Friend of mankind, friend of true righteousness.
Passer-by, pray for him to the Creator and you!”

In the Rostov region, halfway along railway between Rostov and Taganrog, the village of Sinyavskoye is located, named after the admiral.

Family

He was married since 1760 to Anna-Elisabeth von Braude (1733-1776) and had one son and four daughters:

• Anastasia (1760-18 ..), husband Vasily Ivanovich Nelidov (1751-1810), their daughter Maria was married to Count V. F. Adlerberg.
• Ekaterina (1761-1784), maid of honor, since 1781 the wife of Count S. R. Vorontsov.
• Maria (1762-1822), maid of honor, lady of state, since 1781 the wife of A. L. Naryshkin.
• Grigory (1767-1831), captain-commander.
• Anna (1768-1820), unmarried.