November 19 marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Admiral Adam Johann von Krusenstern, a Baltic German explorer. Memorial events took place in Krusenstern’s last resting place in Tallinn Cathedral and in his birthplace Hagudi manor. The international school youth competition dedicated to Krusenstern is over.
“Krusenstern’s heritage is rich. Under his leadership, in 1803–1806, the flag of the Russian Navy was moved around the world for the first time, and based on exploration voyages in the Pacific Ocean, he compiled the first accurate map collection of the world’s largest ocean,” said Urmas Dresen, head of the Estonian Maritime Museum. He added that on the 200th anniversary of the first edition of the Krusenstern Atlas, published in 1824, the theme of the famous Baltic German sailors would be brought to the audience with an exhibition at the Seaplane Harbor.
Estonian schoolchildren took part in an international competition dedicated to Krusenstern’s birthday, in which Evelin Tanis, a student of Tallinn High School of Humanities, won a prize in the younger age group. The competition consisting of a quiz and an essay was initiated by the World St. Petersburg Club, which involved the city of Tallinn in reaching the local students. The Estonian Maritime Museum with the Polar Club, the Estonian History Museum, the History Museum of the University of Tartu, Kiltsi School, the Tallinn Linnamäe Russian Lyceum, and the Maritime Administration participated in the work of the Estonian jury.
On the 250th birthday of Adam Johann von Krusenstern, memorial candles were lit, and flowers were placed in Tallinn Cathedral, where Admiral Krusenstern and his wife have their last resting place. Spoke Arho Tuhkru, a teacher at EELC Tallinn Episcopal Cathedral, Aleksandr Petrov, Ambassador of Russia, Urmas Dresen, Head of the Estonian Maritime Museum, and Alexander Karaulov from the Shipping Veterans Club, who presented a copy of the Imperial Russian Admiral’s Flag to the Cathedral.
On the evening of November 19, a festive memorial evening was held at Hagudi Manor, the birthplace of Krusenstern. A plaque with the image of the sailing ship “Nadežda” was installed on the memorial bench, with which Krusenstern made a voyage around the world. During the memorial evening, Tiit Pruuli also shared his experiences from a sea voyage in honor of the discovery of Antarctica by the Baltic German explorer Admiral Bellingshausen.
According to Piret Laur, the most active villagers of Hagudi have always kept the heritage of Krusenstern in honor: “A memorial stone created by the artist Ermi Littover was erected at the gate of Hagudi manor under a linden tree under protection, which can also commemorate the childhood of the young Adam Johann. On the 100th birthday of the Republic of Estonia, the villagers placed a bench on the boulders in front of the Admiral’s birthplace. This summer, however, the tracks at the manor house were cleared of bushes, and the barn was cleared to give a new use to the square in front of the manor and to the barn-carriage shed on the day of the cafes in the village of Hagudi. The income of the day will be used as a seed for the construction of the Hagudi manor exhibition, which will introduce the life of Krusenstern, the manor, and the village.”
Adam J. von Krusenstern was born on November 19, 1770, in Hagudi, in the Krusenstern family manor, which belonged to them from 1650 until the nationalization of manors in 1920. Admiral Adam Johann Krusenstern also held his wedding at Hagudi Manor when he married Juliane Charlotte von Taube, the manor lady of Järvakandi. Krusenstern died in Kiltsi manor on August 24, 1846 and is buried in Tallinn Cathedral together with his wife.
Photo: National Archives
