Litke, Fyodor Petrovich

Litke, Fyodor Petrovich (1797, St. Petersburg - 1882, ibid) - explorer. Genus. family customs officials. Early left without parents and lived with his uncle, the boy does not pay attention. In the four years of training in the boarding Litke received a modest education. In 1812 he enrolled in the Volunteer Navy, in 1813, three participated in the battles against the French troops in Danzig, and "distinguished", receiving the rank of warrant officer and an officer's military orders. Dream about the distant voyage, Litke taught himself navigation, astronomy, marine practice guidance on. In 1817 - 1819 Litke made a voyage around the world under the command of VM. Golovnina, praising him and recommending to the post of chief of the hydrographic expedition. His voyage Litke described in the book. "Quadruple journey into the Arctic Ocean, if committed by order of Emperor Alexander I in a military brig" New Earth "in 1821, 1822, 1823 and 1824 respectively ...". Litke has valuable hydrographical and astronomical observations; studied the flora, fauna, classes of the population of the Kola Peninsula, entered history as a great explorer of the Arctic. In 1826 - 1829 Litke made a world cruise on the sloop "Senjavin", while to-cerned were collected extensive collections, open many new islands, composed of sea-atlas maps. Description of this journey, published in 1835 - 1836, was translated into several European languages, as the Litke for this work was complete Demidov Prize and was elected a corresponding member of Ross. Academy of Sciences. In 1832 Nicholas I appointed Litke tutor his son Constantine. In 1843, Litke was in the rank of vice admiral and put forward the idea of organizing Eng. Geographical Society. Berg, "thanks to his authority and in scientific circles, and in court circles Litke raised the value of the Company for an unprecedented in the history of other Russian scientific societies height". Becoming in 1845 the head of the Company, Litke headed it for more than 20 years (1845 - 1850; 1857 - 1873). In 1850 - 1853 Litke was the governor of the port of Revel, and Mr.. Revel. During the Crimean War 1853 - 1856 Litke, organized an effective defense of the Gulf of superior forces of the British squadron, for which he received the rank of full admiral and was appointed a member of the State. Board. In 1864 - 1881 Litke was president of the Academy of Sciences, did a lot for the development of science.