Editing Vasily Golovnin (section)

==Early life and career==
Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin was born in April 1776, in the village of Gulyniki in [[Ryazan Oblast]], on his father's country estate.<ref name="Wreck">Kenneth N. Owens, Timofeĭ Tarakanov, Ben Hobucket (2001). ''The Wreck of Sv. Nikolai,'' pp. 5, 11-14, 92 Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press</ref><ref name="Detained">Vasilii Golovnin, Lisa Millner, trans. (1964). ''Detained in Simon's Bay'', p 3. Cape Town : Friends of the South African Library</ref> Both his father and grandfather had served in the Russian military as officers in the elite [[Preobrazhensky Lifeguard regiment]].<ref name="Wiswell"/> Golovnin appeared set to continue the family tradition, but his father died while he was still a child, and at the age of twelve he was enrolled in the Russian Naval College as a [[naval cadet|cadet]].<ref name="Wiswell"/><ref name="Wreck"/> He graduated four years later in 1792.<ref name="Wreck"/>

Golovnin entered active service as a midshipman in May and June 1790, participating in [http://www.abc.se/~pa/mar/russ1790.htm several naval battles] against the [[Sweden|Swedes]].<ref name="Alaska">V N Berkh, V M Golovnin, Alaska Historical Society, Sitka Historical Society, Alaska Historical Commission. (1979). ''The Wreck of the Neva,'' p. 60, Anchorage: Alaska Historical Society</ref> He served in several foreign campaigns between 1793 and 1798. From 1798 to 1800 he served as adjutant and interpreter to Vice Admiral M. K. Makarov, commander of a Russian squadron operating jointly with the British fleet in the [[North Sea]].<ref name="Kodash">Kodansha. (1983). ''Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Volume 3'', p. 43-44, New York & Tokyo: Kodansha</ref>

On the orders of Tsar [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]], Golovnin was sent, along with several other Russian officers, to obtain further training aboard British ships.<ref name="Wiswell"/><ref name="Kodash"/><ref name="Robin Fisher 1979 p. 124">Robin Fisher, Hugh J. M. Johnston (1979). ''Captain James Cook and His Times'', p. 124. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre</ref> He served three years (1802–1805) with the [[British fleet]] under Admirals [[Horatio Nelson|Nelson]], [[Cuthbert Collingwood|Collingwood]], and [[William Cornwallis|Cornwallis]].<ref name="Wiswell"/><ref name="Kodash"/><ref name="Robin Fisher 1979 p. 124"/> During this period, war was once again declared between the British and French, and Golovnin saw action while serving under Admiral Nelson.<ref name="Engages">Cynthia H. Whittaker, E. Kasinec, Robert H. Davis (2003). ''Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825,'' p. 113 Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press</ref>
He returned to Russia in 1806, and began compiling a code of naval signals on the English pattern, which remained in use by the Russian fleet for more than twenty years.<ref name="Wiswell"/>