# Ivan Lebedev

Ivan Nikolaevich Lebedev (1850-1905) was a Russian Captain 1st Rank of the Russo-Japanese War. He was known for commanding the Dmitrii Donskoi and was recognized as a war hero during the Battle of Tsushima.

## Biography

On 14 September 1867 Lebedev enrolled in the Naval Cadet Corps. He entered active service on 17 April 1868, with the rank of Garde de la Marine on 17 April 1871. From 1872 to 20 May 1872 he was assigned to the 15th and 8th Naval Crews. With the rank of naval Lieutenant, Lebedev was dismissed from the navy on May 20. Around this time, he attempted to enter the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology as he earned a living from translations and tutoring but was expelled when he tried to pass the exam for a friend. Afterwards, he would work at the Novotorzhskaya Railway and was in charge of a blacksmith 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. On 30 August 1875 he was raised to aspirant, and on 24 May 1878 he was the military commander of Odessa during the Russo-Turkish War. Lebedev then served aboard the Duma from 22 June to 22 September 1878, and on 1 January 1880 he was promoted to naval lieutenant. He then graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps on 13 November 1880. He then became a naval mine officer of the Vitse-admiral Popov as well as commanded the Mackerel on 20 February 1882, and the Sultanka, he served as a junior mine officer on the Pamyat Merkuriya on 23 September 1883, and Novgorod on 23 September 1884, but was then transferred back to the Vitse-admiral Popov on 23 September 1884. On 1 April 1885 he served as the senior officer aboard the Bulgarian yacht Alexander the First but returned to Russian service on 14 October 1885.
From 18 January to 18 April 1886 he served as a miner officer aboard the Zabiyaka but was then transferred to the Russian Siberian Flotilla on 16 March 1887, and commanded destroyer no. 76 on 30 March 1887. From 8 November 1887 to 26 April 1888, he commanded the 6th Naval Crew and began participating in classes specializing in naval mines on 23 November 1887. On 23 April 1888 he became the head of the detachment of destroyers as he commanded the Bobr on 4 October 1888. He was then assigned to work with apprentice miners and divers on 28 October 1888. From 16 February 1889 to 1 October 1890 he commanded the Yanchikhe. He was temporarily transferred back to the Black Sea Fleet on 11 September 1890, with no post but then returned to the Siberian Flotilla on 24 November 1890. He also commanded the Dzhim Gamil'ton L'yuis from 17 August to 10 October 1891, to enforce poaching laws as he served from the Bering Islands to Vladivostok and also served command of the Tunguz for only two days. Lebedev then became commander of the Aleut on 10 November 1891, and the Nargen at an unknown date.
On 1 January 1893 he was promoted to Captain 2nd Rank, and on 30 June that year he was a member of the Provisional Naval Court. After returning to serve the Yanchikhe on 31 July 1893 he was transferred to the Korietz from 8 September 1893 to 26 March 1895. Lebedev then returned to the Zabiyaka on 6 December 1895, and on 16 December 1896 he was made the assistant adjutant commander of Vladivostok. On 17 November 1897 he commanded the Oprichnik and oversaw the construction of the Forel class destroyers in France. After being promoted to Captain 1st rank on 1 January 1901, he commanded the Oleg after its completion but then took command of the Dmitrii Donskoi in 1904 which he would take to participate in the Battle of Tsushima. He was heavily wounded during the battle, dying from them on 3 June 1905, at Sasebo.
A recollection of the events at the Dmitrii Donskoi by A. S. Novikov-Priboy documents the following:
   The senior officer was on deck when one of the sailors flew up to him and, choking on words, reported:
   - Your Excellency ... the commander asks you. Blokhin immediately climbed onto the bridge and, looking into the mangled and dilapidated cabin, was momentarily dumbfounded. The entire deck shone with fresh blood. Lieutenant Durnovo, leaning against the wall, sat motionless, bent over, as if thinking about something, but his skull was blown off with his cap and his brain was terribly pink. The steering quartermaster, Polyakov, curled up at the binnacle. Lieutenant Gears lay with his belly torn open. Above these dead men, gritting his teeth in pain, towered only Commander Lebedev, barely holding on to the handles of the steering wheel. He had a through wound in the thigh with a broken bone. In addition, his entire body was injured by small fragments. He stood on one foot and tried to keep the cruiser on course, unaware that the steering gear was broken and that the ship was steadily rolling to the right. Seeing the senior officer, he raised his eyebrows in surprise and said with blue lips: - I'm surrendering command ... - I will now order that you, Ivan Nikolaevich, be transferred to the dressing station.
   - No need. I will stay here. Try to get into the shadow of the island as soon as possible. Don't give up the ship. Better break it...

## Awards

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

### Foreign Awards

* Romania: Crossing the Danube Cross [ro]