Oskar Enkvist
Encyclopedia
Oskar Adolfovich Enkwist or Oskar Enquist (Russian: Оскар Адольфович Энквист; October 28, 1849 – March 3, 1912) was an admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy
, noted for his role in the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905.
at the Naval Cadet Corps
in 1866. He graduated as a midshipman in 1869 and was promoted to petty officer
in 1871. He served in the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1871–1874, and was promoted to lieutenant on August 30, 1874. From June 15, 1884 - October 24, 1887, he was an officer on the gunboat
Sivuch (built on April 15, 1884– launched July 21, 1904, in service October 28, 1884– scuttled July 20, 1904) on which he led an expedition to the Far East. On April 13, 1886 he was promoted to lieutenant commander, while still on his expedition.
On his return to Russia on October 28, 1887, Enkvist was transferred to the cruiser as executive officer
on April 9, 1888, on which he made a second voyage to the Far East from 1890-1891. On board this ship was the Tsarevich Nicholas II
From May 27, 1891 to September 21, 1893 Enkvist commanded on the gunboat Bobr (built January 1884– launched April 10, 1885– in service December 20, 1885– struck in 1905) and supervised hydrological studies off the shores of Korea
. While on this voyage, on December 6, 1894, he promoted to the rank of captain.
On the return from this voyage, Enkwist was appointed captain of the training cruiser on June 5, 1895, and commanded this vessel until June 7, 1899.
On December 6, 1901, Enkvist was promoted to rear admiral. With this rank, he became commandant of the port and city of Nikolaïev
on September 9, 1902 to April 26, 1904.
During the Russo-Japanese War
, Enkvist, largely through the political patronage of his cousin Fedor Avelan, Vice-Chairman of the Russian Admiralty, he was appointed as commander of the cruiser squadron of the Second Pacific Fleet, over numerous officers with higher seniority. He made the new cruiser as his flagship
. During the Battle of Tsushima
on May 27–28, 1905, in order to avoid capture or destruction by the Imperial Japanese Navy
, he fled the scene of the battle together with the and to the neutral port of Manila
, where he and his squadron were interned by the Americans until the end of the war.
After his return to Russia, he was released from service with the Russian Imperial Navy on November 10, 1907 with the rank of vice admiral.
Oskar Adolfovitch Enqvist died on March 3, 1912 in Kronstadt
and was buried there.
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
, noted for his role in 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...
of 1904-1905.
Biography
Of ethnic Swedish descent, Enkvist was a classmate of future Admiral Nikolai NebogatovNikolai Nebogatov
Nikolai Ivanovich Nebogatov was a Rear-Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy, noted for his role in the final stages of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.-Biography:...
at the Naval Cadet Corps
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 1866. He graduated as a midshipman in 1869 and was promoted to petty officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
in 1871. He served in the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1871–1874, and was promoted to lieutenant on August 30, 1874. From June 15, 1884 - October 24, 1887, he was an officer on the gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
Sivuch (built on April 15, 1884– launched July 21, 1904, in service October 28, 1884– scuttled July 20, 1904) on which he led an expedition to the Far East. On April 13, 1886 he was promoted to lieutenant commander, while still on his expedition.
On his return to Russia on October 28, 1887, Enkvist was transferred to the cruiser as executive officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
on April 9, 1888, on which he made a second voyage to the Far East from 1890-1891. On board this ship was the Tsarevich Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
From May 27, 1891 to September 21, 1893 Enkvist commanded on the gunboat Bobr (built January 1884– launched April 10, 1885– in service December 20, 1885– struck in 1905) and supervised hydrological studies off the shores of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. While on this voyage, on December 6, 1894, he promoted to the rank of captain.
On the return from this voyage, Enkwist was appointed captain of the training cruiser on June 5, 1895, and commanded this vessel until June 7, 1899.
On December 6, 1901, Enkvist was promoted to rear admiral. With this rank, he became commandant of the port and city of Nikolaïev
Mykolaiv
Mykolaiv , also known as Nikolayev , is a city in southern Ukraine, administrative center of the Mykolaiv Oblast. Mykolaiv is the main ship building center of the Black Sea, and, arguably, the whole Eastern Europe.-Name of city:...
on September 9, 1902 to April 26, 1904.
During 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...
, Enkvist, largely through the political patronage of his cousin Fedor Avelan, Vice-Chairman of the Russian Admiralty, he was appointed as commander of the cruiser squadron of the Second Pacific Fleet, over numerous officers with higher seniority. He made the new cruiser as his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
. During the Battle of Tsushima
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
on May 27–28, 1905, in order to avoid capture or destruction by the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, he fled the scene of the battle together with the and to the neutral port of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, where he and his squadron were interned by the Americans until the end of the war.
After his return to Russia, he was released from service with the Russian Imperial Navy on November 10, 1907 with the rank of vice admiral.
Oskar Adolfovitch Enqvist died on March 3, 1912 in Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
and was buried there.
Imperial Russia decorations
- Order of St. Stanislaus 2nd degree, January 8, 1890
- Order of St. Anne
Order of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
2nd degree 1892 - Order of St Vladimir 4th degree with bow, 1897.
- Order of St Vladimir 3rd degree, December 6, 1899.
- Order of St. Stanislaus 1st degree, January 1, 1904
Foreign distinctions
- Order of the Redeemer
Order of the RedeemerThe Order of the Redeemer , also known as the Order of the Savior, is an order of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state.- History :...
, Knight, 1866 (Greece) - Order of the Sacred TreasureOrder of the Sacred TreasureThe is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
, 3rd class, 1891 (Japan) - Order of the Red EagleOrder of the Red EagleThe Order of the Red Eagle was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements...
, 2nd class, 1897 (Prussia) - Officer of the Legion of Honor, 1897 (France)
- Order of the RedeemerOrder of the RedeemerThe Order of the Redeemer , also known as the Order of the Savior, is an order of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state.- History :...
, Commander, 1899 (Greece) - Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusOrder of Saints Maurice and LazarusThe Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
, Commander, 1900 (Italy) - Order of the Rising SunOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 3rd degree, 1902 (Japan)
