Zalesski Vladimir Vladimirovich
Alexander I, Ivan F. Kruzenshtern, Yuri F. Lisyansky, Nikolai P. Rezanov. Polycentrism of a successful project. Essay
Alexander I, Ivan F. Kruzenshtern, Yuri F. Lisyansky, Nikolai P. Rezanov. Polycentrism of a successful project. Essay
(Phased translation from Russian into English).
Vladimir Vladimirovich Zalesski
1.And whether there was Washington? Short preface
Almost 210 years have elapsed since the completion of the first Russian round the world navigation of Kruzenshtern (Krusenstern) and Lisyansky (Lisianski).
Many publications was written About this expedition (a bibliography is given, for example, in the books of V. M. Pasetsky and I. I. Firsov [1] [2]).
But, however, a well-known and popular theme has slippery fragments. Why do these fragments exist? The reasons are different. One of the reasons is a certain "loyalty" of the author to one of the circumnavigators.
However, even "equidistance" does not always add certainty, clarity, indisputability.
Another reason is the tendency towards "fictionality" of the first Russian round-the-world expedition. It seems that the author writes about real events, but - sometimes, perhaps against his will - the characters become characters of a legend or a fairy tale, and readers can only guess how things really were.
Like nobody would deny that Yu.F. Lisyansky met the president of USA George Washington.
But we open one of the books for children about I.F. Krusenstern and we read, that the president of USA George Washington met ... with Kruzenshtern. This book in the given episode about Yu.F. Lisyansky at all does not mention.
We read in detailed, information rich, books by E. L. Steinberg and I.I. Firsov: U.S. President Washington met Yuri F. Lisyansky. Moreover, this meeting occurred during a sufficiently long multi-episode journey. Kruzenshtern is not mentioned as a satellite Lisyansky in this journey across U.S. [3] [2].
But here's a new version. We open the book of V. M. Pasetsky. "Between the sailors, who later was to command the ships of the First Russian round-the-world expedition, established friendly relations. They visited the U.S.President George Washington. This meeting has made a lasting impression on the Russian officers" [1]. And what, with U.S. President met together both Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky?
"Having returned to hotel, Lisyansky first opened his diary: "... The president Washington was very kind to me. I am grateful to him for the rest of my life. I am convinced that he one of the greatest people. Its clarity and and favor in the course of communication are surprise"" [2].
The theme has another "turnover". The records of Heinrich Schliemann's diary about meetings with the United States Presidents. And the modern commentaries on these records.
"In December 1850, Heinrich Schliemann, taking with him $ 30,000 in cash (50,000 thalers), traveled to the United States via Amsterdam and Liverpool. (...) Schliemann's diary contains numerous descriptions. Biographers have proved that their basis was newspaper publications. The visit to the White House and communication with the U.S. President Millard Fillmore were completely fictional - Schliemann was neither known nor rich enough to be of interest to the President of the United States of America" [4].
Biographers Heinrich Schliemann more or less amicably are consolidated: a meeting with Millard Fillmore, allegedly, was invented by Schliemann. Schliemann was, it turns out, insufficiently significant person.
And the officer Yu. F. Lisyansky was not the highest military rank (at that time). But he was so considerable figure that had an opportunity to meet and talk to the U.S. President.
Suppose that U.S. presidents communicate with people of different social status.
Let's return to the descriptions of the first Russian circumnavigation. The bias of the authors, the ambiguity of the presented information: this is "bad" or "good"? More probably "good" than "bad": it means that the topic is still of interest, that the topic continues to excite new generations, that the topic is relevant and interesting.
After reading the various books about Lisyansky and Kruzenshtern, comparing the read, the author decided to present some thoughts, conclusions, generalizations in this essay.
The author did not put a task to realize some kind of "equidistance" in relation to two great circumnavigators. Though such "equidistance" - in an ideal - would be desirable. Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky come in a history as outstanding people. Kruzenshtern has made a lot of useful both for Russia, and for all world, and for a world science during round-the-world navigation 1803-1806 years and after its end. At the same time, if in the given sketch also will be shown certain "imbalance" in relation to the participants of round-the-world expedition, such "imbalance" will be, nevertheless, naturaclass="underline" on pharmaceutical scales (weighing machine) it isn't possible to weigh information, estimates and opinions.
2. "They project to navigation around the world", "to make more than Laperouse"
"Can you imagine not knowing how and not having the funds to build ships, they design to travel around the world. They have a shortage of everything: can't find for ocean voyage no astronomer, no scientist, no biologist, no decent doctor. With such equipment, even if the sailors and officers were good, what of all this can get good?.. In short, they undertake to make more than Lap;rouse, who met with considerable difficulties, despite the fact that he and his staff had much greater possibilities. Hope that it will ended well, and I will be very dissatisfied if we lose a dozen fairly good officers, whom at us not so that is a lot of" (From a letter of the Minister of naval forces of the Russian Empire to Ambassador in England (it is quoted on: [2]).
The world's first circumnavigation project probably was formulated and presented for consideration by Ferdinand Magellan on the frontier of 1400 x -1500 x (round the world navigation, the first in world history, organized by the Magellan, was held in period of 1519-1522 (1519-1527)).
Russia was not separated from Western European countries with an insurmountable wall. Anyway, information about the plans of the ocean voyages round the world, and on the implementation of these plans arrived to residents of Russia.
20 Oct 1696 Peter the Great made a proposal through the Boyar Duma: "Sea ships to be...". This date is now honored as the Day of Foundation of the Russian regular Navy [5].
The people, who had seaworthy knowledge of high level, and the professional fleet has appeared.
Since that time, the idea of circumnavigation clearly or latently present in the minds of the inhabitants of the Russian Empire.
According to I. I. Firsov, the first clear project of organizing a round-the-world voyage with the visits to Kamchatka arose from Vice Admiral Count Nikolai Golovin in connection with the organization of the Bering expedition (1732) [2]. At that time N. Golovin's project found no support.
Circumnavigation became real during the reign of Catherine II. The idea was supported by Alexander Andreyevich Bezborodko (1747-1799), the Secretary of the Empress. Vice President of Admiralty Board, count Ivan Grigoryevich Chernyshev began at his own expense in 1781 the preparation and equipment for circumnavigation.
Captain of the 1st. rank Grigory Ivanovich Mulovsky was appointed commander of this expedition. In September 1787 the ships of the expedition "were in full readiness to March". However, "September 7, 1787 issued a Manifesto declaring war on Turkey." 4 Oct 1787, captain 1st rank G. I. Mulovsky asked for permission to leave the port for the start of the expedition. There was no answer. 28 Oct 1787 came the Empress's decree about the cancellation of the expedition. In 1789, during the naval battle with the Swedish Navy G. I. Mulovsky died [2].