Treaty of Shimoda
As commander of the frigate "Pallada" in 1852, he participated in the secret diplomatic mission to Japan, headed by Vice-Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin. The fleet reached Nagasaki in Japan in 1853, contributing many important discoveries in oceanography along the way. The expedition also led to the signing of the Treaty of Shimoda, a commercial treaty between Japan and Russia which was followed by the opening of the Russian foreign settlement at Nagasaki.