Ivan Grigorovich
Encyclopedia
Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich (1853 — 1930) served as Russia's Naval Minister from 1911 until the onset of revolution in 1917.
Graduating from the Naval academy
in 1874 Grigorovich served as an officer on various ships. In 1896 he was appointed Russian naval attaché in London. In 1899 he appointed to command the battleship Tsesarevich, which was being completed in France. In 1903 Tseserevish sailed to Port Arthur
.
After the Japanese torpedo boats attack on Port-Arthur, starting the Russo-Japanese war
, Grigorovich was promoted to rear admiral and appointed chief of Port Arthur
's port. Under his effective management, Russian Pacific squadron had no shortage of coal, munitions or any supplies during the Siege of Port Arthur
.
After the end of the war he was appointed chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet
. In 1909 he was appointed Deputy Navy Minister. From 1911 until the onset of revolution in 1917 he served as Russia's Naval Minister, overseeing a huge rearment programme. The naval build-up included building four Gangut class battleship
s for the Baltic sea and four Imperatritsa Mariya class battleship
s for the Black sea. He enjoyed good relationships with the Duma
and used his popularity to secure huge extra funds to expand the navy.
He was dismissed from office in the wake of the February Revolution
on 31 March 1917. From his retirement he asked for permission to get medical treatment abroad, and left for France in the autumn of 1924. He died there in 1930. He was initially buried in the Russian Cemetery in Menton
. In 2005 the urn containing his ashes was taken aboard the Russian cruiser Moskva, which carried his remains to Novorossiysk. The ashes were then taken to Saint Petersburg
and buried in the family vault in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
in accordance with the admiral's will.
The Russian Navy has named the first of the Admiral Grigorovich class frigate
s after Ivan Grigorovich.
Graduating from the Naval academy
Sea Cadet Corps (Russia)
The Sea Cadet Corps , occasionally translated as the Marine Cadet Corps or the Naval Cadet Corps, is an educational establishment for training Naval officers for the Russian Navy in Saint Petersburg.It is the oldest existing high school in Russia.-History:...
in 1874 Grigorovich served as an officer on various ships. In 1896 he was appointed Russian naval attaché in London. In 1899 he appointed to command the battleship Tsesarevich, which was being completed in France. In 1903 Tseserevish sailed to Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
.
After the Japanese torpedo boats attack on Port-Arthur, starting the Russo-Japanese war
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, Grigorovich was promoted to rear admiral and appointed chief of Port Arthur
Lüshunkou
Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
's port. Under his effective management, Russian Pacific squadron had no shortage of coal, munitions or any supplies during the Siege of Port Arthur
Siege of Port Arthur
The Siege of Port Arthur , 1 August 1904 – 2 January 1905, the deep-water port and Russian naval base at the tip of the Liaotung Peninsula in Manchuria, was the longest and most violent land battle of the Russo-Japanese War....
.
After the end of the war he was appointed chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
. In 1909 he was appointed Deputy Navy Minister. From 1911 until the onset of revolution in 1917 he served as Russia's Naval Minister, overseeing a huge rearment programme. The naval build-up included building four Gangut class battleship
Gangut class battleship
The Gangut-class battleships were the first dreadnoughts begun for the Imperial Russian Navy before World War I. They had a convoluted design history involving several British companies, evolving requirements, an international design competition, and foreign protests...
s for the Baltic sea and four Imperatritsa Mariya class battleship
Imperatritsa Mariya class battleship
The Imperatritsa Mariya-class battleships were the first dreadnoughts built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy. All three ships were built in Nikolayev during World War I; two of the ships were built by the Rossud Dockyard and the third was built by the Associated Factories and...
s for the Black sea. He enjoyed good relationships with the Duma
State Duma of the Russian Empire
The State Duma of the Russian Empire was a legislative assembly in the late Russian Empire, which met in the Taurida Palace in St. Petersburg. It was convened four times between 1906 and the collapse of the Empire in 1917.-History:...
and used his popularity to secure huge extra funds to expand the navy.
He was dismissed from office in the wake of the February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
on 31 March 1917. From his retirement he asked for permission to get medical treatment abroad, and left for France in the autumn of 1924. He died there in 1930. He was initially buried in the Russian Cemetery in Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
. In 2005 the urn containing his ashes was taken aboard the Russian cruiser Moskva, which carried his remains to Novorossiysk. The ashes were then taken to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and buried in the family vault in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Alexander Nevsky Lavra
Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra or Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter I of Russia in 1710 at the eastern end of the Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg supposing that that was the site of the Neva Battle in 1240 when Alexander Nevsky, a prince, defeated the Swedes; however, the battle...
in accordance with the admiral's will.
The Russian Navy has named the first of the Admiral Grigorovich class frigate
Admiral Grigorovich class frigate
The Admiral Grigorovich class is the latest class of frigates ordered by the Russian Navy for the Black Sea Fleet. Three ships have been ordered so far to be built by the "Yantar" shipyard in Kaliningrad. The frigates are based on the Talwar-class frigate, six of which were ordered by the Indian...
s after Ivan Grigorovich.