Samuel Carlovich Graig
(1735-1788)

Samuel Graig was born into the family of a Scottish ship-owner. He joined the English Navy, but his career was rather sluggish due to a lack of high-level connections or substantial means. By the age of 29, Graig had barely made the rank of lieutenant. He came to Russia in 1763 and was immediately noticed. Craig's career took off. Soon he became Russia's most celebrated Navy commander of Catherine's era. A simple enumeration of his victories and acts of courage in Russia's major Navy battles of the late 18th century bespeaks his outstanding talent and personality. During the 1768-1774 Russo-Turkish war, his ships burned down the Turkish Navy in the Battle of Chesma; in 1773, he commanded a squadron in the Archipelago Battle. From 1774 on Graig managed the port of Kronstadt. Commanding the Baltic Fleet in the 1788-1790 Russo-Swedish War, he defeated the Swedish Navy at Hochland. Graig's merits as a reformer were just as impressive. He developed new armament rules for the Russian Navy, designed the 66-cannon warship the Iziaslav in 1784, which remained in service until 1808. Due to its ingenious design, the Iziaslav remained afloat and in battle at Hochland despite receiving 180 shell holes from the Swedish Navy. The Iziaslav launched a whole new generation of warships.

Catherine II entrusted a very delicate matter to Graig, asking him to track down and return to Russia a certain impostor, Princess Tarakanova. This charge was successfully fulfilled.

A full admiral, laureate of Russia's highest national award, the Order of St Andrew The First-Called, and an honorary member of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences, Samuel Graig died aboard his flagship. "A tremendous loss for us and for the nation," said Catherine II over his white marble tomb.