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This medaille has been minted to commemorate the Russian navigator and the Vice Admiral, Vasily GOLOVNIN, 1776 – 1831.
This medal has been designed by the Russian medalist, A. Filippova.
Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin (Василий Михайлович Головнин in Russian) 19 April [O.S. 8 April] 1776, Gulyniki, Ryazan Oblast, Russia 11 July [O.S. 29 June] 1831, Saint Petersburg, Russia, was a Russian navigator, Vice Admiral, and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1818).
av.
Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin; the signature if the medalist; A. Filippowa
rv. The warship “Diana”
diameter - 60 mm (2 ⅜“)
weight – 123.70 gr, (4.36 oz)
metal – bronze, mint patina
Vasily
Mikhailovich Golovnin was born in April 1776, in the village of Gulyniki in
Ryazan Oblast, on his father's country estate. Both his father and grandfather
had served in the Russian military as officers in the elite Preobrazhensky
Lifeguard regiment. Golovnin appeared set to continue the family
tradition, but his father died while he was still a child, and at the age of
twelve he was enrolled in the Russian Naval College as a cadet. He graduated four years later in 1792.
Golovnin
entered active service as a midshipman in May and June 1790, participating in several
naval battles against the Swedes. He served in several foreign campaigns
between 1793 and 1798. From 1798 to 1800 he served as adjutant and interpreter
to Vice Admiral M. K. Makarov, commander of a Russian squadron operating
jointly with the British fleet in the North Sea.
On
the orders of Tsar Alexander I,
Golovnin was sent, along with several other Russian officers, to obtain further
training aboard British ships. He served three years (1802–1805) with the British fleet under Admirals Nelson, Collingwood,
and Cornwallis.
During this period, war was once again declared between the British and French,
and Golovnin saw action while serving under Admiral Nelson.
He
returned to Russia in 1806, and began compiling a code of naval signals on the
English pattern, which remained in use by the Russian fleet for more than
twenty years.
Golovnin was given command of the sloop Diana in 1806,
and made his first voyage around the world (1807—1809), with the object of
conducting a survey of the northern Pacific, and transporting supplies to Okhotsk.
The Diana
set sail from Kronstadt on July 7,
1807. A severe storm in April 1808 prevented the Diana from sailing
around Cape Horn, and Golovnin decided to set sail
for the Cape of Good Hope
in South Africa, to restock the ship's supplies. He
anchored in the nearby port of Simon's Town on May 3, 1808. Golovnin, having
been at sea for ten months, was unaware that Russian relations with Britain had
deteriorated, and Russia had allied herself with the French. The Diana was
immediately detained as an enemy vessel by a British naval squadron, pending
receipt of appropriate instructions from London. Golovnin and his crew spent more than
a year detained aboard the Diana at Simon's Town awaiting a decision
from British authorities. When it became increasingly clear that a decision
might never come, Golovnin began to plot their escape. On May 28, 1809, perfect
conditions presented themselves - a fair wind and poor visibility. The crew
severed the anchor cables, and managed successfully to sail out of the bay,
passing directly in front of several British warships. Once the British
discovered that they had escaped, they set off in pursuit, but failed to
overtake the Diana, which sailed safely at Kamchatka in 1810. News of the Diana's
"audacious escape" quickly spread throughout the world.
In
1819, Golovnin published an account of their voyage, detention and escape,
titled Journey of the Russian Emperor’s sloop Diana from Kronstadt to
Kamchatka.
Golovnin
left Kamchatka in 1810, sailing to Baranof Island, a recently settled outpost of
the Russian-American
Company.
In 1811, Golovnin described and mapped the Kuril Islands from the Strait of Hope to the
eastern shores of Iturup Island (Etorofu in Japanese).
While
exploring Kunashir Island (Kunashiri in Japanese), Golovnin was lured
ashore, taken prisoner, charged with violating Sakoku (a Japanese policy prohibiting
foreigners from entering Japan), and held captive for two years by the Japanese
on the island of Hokkaido. Golovnin was
said to possess a "superior education and fascination with foreign
cultures." After making one failed attempt to escape his captures,
Golovnin decided to utilize his time in detainment to master the Japanese
language, and familiarize himself with Japanese culture and traditions.
Golovnin
was released in 1813, returned to Russia, and published an account of his years
in captivity. His book, Captivity in Japan During the Years 1811, 1812, 1813,
became an instant classic. It was hailed in Russia as an authoritative volume
on Japanese culture, and helped shape an entire generation's view of Japan. Golovnin
clearly respected the Japanese, portraying them "as intelligent, as
patriotic, and as worthy rivals" of the Russians in the Pacific. The
captivity of Golovnin almost led to war between Russia and Japan in what became
known as the Golovnin Incident.
In
1817, Golovnin set out on a second voyage around the world aboard the frigate Kamchatka.
Serving under him were three future Russian explorers of prominence - Fyodor Litke,
Fyodor Matyushkin,
and Ferdinand von Wrangel.
The
objective was to deliver supplies to Kamchatka, and survey previously
unexplored islands along what is now the northwestern coast of Alaska. Golovnin was also tasked with
compiling a report detailing relations between the Kodiak Islanders and employees of the
Russian-American Company.
After
returning to Russia in September 1819, Golovnin published Around the World
on the Kamchatka, describing his voyage, and his encounters with the native
Kodiak and Sandwich Islanders.
Though
the journey had "achieved little in the way of new discoveries,"
Golovnin returned with "a vast store of scientific and astronomical
information" to share with Russian scientists.
In
1821, Golovnin was appointed assistant director of the Russian Naval College,
and later, in 1823, General Quartermaster of the Fleet.
A
talented administrator, Golovnin successfully managed the activities of the shipbuilding, commissariat, and artillery departments. Under his supervision,
over two hundred ships were built, including the first Russian steamships. Golovnin also served as a mentor
to numerous Russian navigators, including the aforementioned Fyodor Litke and
Ferdinand von Wrangel.
Golovnin
died of cholera during an epidemic that swept through the city of Saint
Petersburg in 1831.
The village of Golovin, Alaska, Cape Golovnin, as well as
Golovnin Bay and Golovnin Lagoon, are all named in honor of Vasily Golovnin. A
strait between two of the Kuril Islands, Golovnin volcano on Kunashir Island, capes on Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land, are among other landmarks
bearing his name. The cape of Point Hope
in Alaska was also originally named in Golovnin's honor.
Golovnin's
literary works detailing his adventures at sea and on shore remain notable due
to his "respect for historical detail...[his] critical ability, literary
skill, and lively curiosity."
He
was awarded many honors during his life, including the Order of St. Vladimir
and the Order of Saint George,
serving as commander of the latter.