Admiral Alexei Naumovich Senyavin was the son of Naum Akimovich Senyavin — an admiral under Peter the Great who defeated the Swedish fleet in the Russian navy’s first battle of ships of the line. Alexei Senyavin was born on October 5, 1722.
In September 1734, Alexei and his brother Sergey were recruited and at once assigned the rank of midshipman in honor of their father’s service to the country. At the time, Alexei was 12 years old. In 1738, during the Russo-Turkish War, Alexei Senyavin served as an aide-de-camp in his father’s staff in the Dnieper Flotilla. On May 24, 1738, his father died of the plague. In 1741, Alexei Senyavin was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Gradually moving through the ranks, in February 1769, he became captain of the first rank.
Senyavin commanded the ships “John Chrysostom” and “Saint Paul” and participated in the Siege of Kolberg during the Seven Years’ War. In April 1762, due to a severe illness, Senyavin resigned. In 1766, after recovering, he was called out for service again as treasurer-general of the Admiralty, and two years later, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.
In 1768, due to Russia’s ongoing preparations for another war against the Turks, Catherine the Great entrusted Alexei Senyavin with establishing the Don Flotilla and constructing ships of various types at the old dockyards along the Don River, which would be able to reach the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Thus, the Don (Azov) Flotilla was re-established, which was supposed to interoperate with the Russian ground forces in the Black Sea coastal area.
In 1769, Alexei Senyavin was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral and assigned with restoring Taganrog. The “newly invented” ships built on the Don River by 1771 helped the navy to capture Crimea. For this achievement, Senyavin was awarded the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. In 1773, Senyavin’s flotilla fought so successfully against the Turkish fleet that it forever closed the Sea of Azov for enemies by capturing the fortresses of Yeni-Kale and Kerch. In 1775, after the victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774, the Russian Empire needed a new shipyard on the Black Sea to build a fleet. Senyavin once again led an expedition and chose Kherson as the place for the Russian naval base.
For his work and important contribution, Senyavin was promoted to the rank of admiral and was awarded numerous orders of the Russian Empire. In 1788, due to an illness, he resigned, and in 1794, after recovering, returned to service, and was appointed a member of the Board of Admiralties. In 1797, Alexei Senyavin died in Saint Petersburg.
In September 1734, Alexei and his brother Sergey were recruited and at once assigned the rank of midshipman in honor of their father’s service to the country. At the time, Alexei was 12 years old. In 1738, during the Russo-Turkish War, Alexei Senyavin served as an aide-de-camp in his father’s staff in the Dnieper Flotilla. On May 24, 1738, his father died of the plague. In 1741, Alexei Senyavin was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Gradually moving through the ranks, in February 1769, he became captain of the first rank.
Senyavin commanded the ships “John Chrysostom” and “Saint Paul” and participated in the Siege of Kolberg during the Seven Years’ War. In April 1762, due to a severe illness, Senyavin resigned. In 1766, after recovering, he was called out for service again as treasurer-general of the Admiralty, and two years later, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.
In 1768, due to Russia’s ongoing preparations for another war against the Turks, Catherine the Great entrusted Alexei Senyavin with establishing the Don Flotilla and constructing ships of various types at the old dockyards along the Don River, which would be able to reach the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Thus, the Don (Azov) Flotilla was re-established, which was supposed to interoperate with the Russian ground forces in the Black Sea coastal area.
In 1769, Alexei Senyavin was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral and assigned with restoring Taganrog. The “newly invented” ships built on the Don River by 1771 helped the navy to capture Crimea. For this achievement, Senyavin was awarded the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. In 1773, Senyavin’s flotilla fought so successfully against the Turkish fleet that it forever closed the Sea of Azov for enemies by capturing the fortresses of Yeni-Kale and Kerch. In 1775, after the victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774, the Russian Empire needed a new shipyard on the Black Sea to build a fleet. Senyavin once again led an expedition and chose Kherson as the place for the Russian naval base.
For his work and important contribution, Senyavin was promoted to the rank of admiral and was awarded numerous orders of the Russian Empire. In 1788, due to an illness, he resigned, and in 1794, after recovering, returned to service, and was appointed a member of the Board of Admiralties. In 1797, Alexei Senyavin died in Saint Petersburg.
