Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe

Who was Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe?

Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe was an admiral of the Russian Imperial Navy.

After graduating from naval academy joined the corps of navy cadets and in 1832 was promoted midshipman in the Baltic Fleet serving on the frigates Belton, Kulm and Oranienbaum. In 1836-1837 he was sent to the Caspian Sea, participating in the naval operations during the Caucasian War. His bravery during the war earned him the rank of lieutenant. In 1838 Krabbe was appointed the General Staff of the Imperial Navy, as aide-de-camp to prince L.S. Menshikov.

In 1839 he was sent to the Azov Sea to organize a naval expedition along the northern coast of the Black Sea, being in command of a squadron under admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev at that time in head of the Black Sea Fleet. Promoted captain lieutenant in 1842, he was part of the Russian mission led by admiral Yevfimy Vasilievich Putyatin to Iran. Thereafter, in 1847, he was in charge of a naval expedition exploring the delta of the Syr Darya. He returned to the Black Sea Fleet in 1853, being in command of a squadron under viceadmiral Lazar Markovich Serebryakov.