Istomin, Vladimir

Born 1809 in Penza Province; died Mar. 7 (19), 1855, in Sevastopol’. Hero of the defense of Sevastopol’ of 1854–55, rear admiral (1853). Of dvo-rianstvo (noble or gentry) descent.

Istomin graduated from the Naval Cadet School in 1827 and participated in the battle f Navarino in 1827 and in the blockade of the Dardanelles in 1828 and 1829. He was transferred from the Baltic Fleet to the Black Sea Fleet in 1836. In 1850, Istomin was placed in command of the battleship Parizh, which he commanded in the battle of Sinope in 1853. During the defense of Sevastopol’ he directed the defense of the Malakhov Kurgan and the surrounding redoubts, showing bravery and perseverance. Istamin was killed by cannon fire on the Kamchatka lunette and was buried in Sevastopol’.