Ivan Lebedev

Ivan Nikolaevich Lebedev (1850–1905) was a Russian naval officer who held the rank of Captain 1st Rank. He served in the Russo-Japanese War and is best known for commanding the armored cruiser Dmitrii Donskoi during the Battle of Tsushima. Lebedev died on 3 June 1905 in Sasebo, Japan, following the ship's scuttling after the battle.

Biography On 14 September 1867, Lebedev enrolled in the Naval Cadet Corps. He entered active service on 17 April 1868 and was promoted to Garde de la Marine on 17 April 1871. From 1871 to 20 May 1872 he served in the 15th and 8th Naval Crews. Holding the rank of lieutenant, he was dismissed from the navy on 20 May 1872. Around this period he attempted to study at the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology while earning a living through translation and tutoring, but he was expelled after attempting to take an examination in place of a friend. He subsequently worked for the Novotorzhskaya Railway and later supervised a blacksmith workshop in Odessa.

In 1875 he re-enlisted as a Garde de la Marine and was assigned to the 2nd Naval Crew in the Black Sea. He was promoted to aspirant on 30 August 1875. During the Russo-Turkish War, he served as the military commander of Odessa (24 May 1878). He served aboard Duma from 22 June to 22 September 1878 and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 January 1880. He completed his officer training at the Naval Cadet Corps on 13 November 1880.

Lebedev served as a mine officer on the Vitse-admiral Popov, commanded the destroyers Mackerel (from 20 February 1882) and Sultanka, and later served as junior mine officer on Pamyat Merkuriya (23 September 1883) and Novgorod (23 September 1884). He returned to Vitse-admiral Popov on 23 September 1884. On 1 April 1885 he was appointed senior officer aboard the Bulgarian yacht Alexander the First, returning to Russian service on 14 October 1885. He was severely wounded during the battle and died on 3 June 1905 at Sasebo.

Awards Order of St. Anna, 3rd Class Order of St. Anna, 2nd Class

Foreign Awards