Early life and career Kornilov was born on his family estate in
Staritsky District,
Tver Governorate in 1806. His father was governor of Irkutsk. Kornilov entered the naval service in 1823, and in 1827 he fought in the
Battle of Navarino as a midshipman aboard the fleet's
flagship . on board of the brig
Themistocles. 1835. Paper, watercolour, pencil, varnish. 40.4 x 28.9 cm. The State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. The Portrait of V. A. Kornilov, Captain of brig
Themistocles, was painted during an expedition in Greece and Turkey. Athens, 1835 In 1841 he became the first captain of the
battleship Twelve Apostles, he disciplined the crew and participated with it in the Black Sea Fleet Review (held every seven years) before Grand Duke
Konstantin Nikolayevich. He sailed to London in 1847 to buy a new steam frigate. In 1849 he became
chief of staff Black Sea Fleet.
Crimean War Battle against the Pervaz-ı Bahrî The Russian Black Fleet was split into two squadrons. One of which went to Kornilov and the other to
Pavel Nakhimov.
Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov tasked Kornilov to attack any Ottoman ship. The battle resulted in 22 dead Ottoman Sailors, including the commander Said Pasha and another 18 wounded. '' of November 5, 1853 – first action between steam ships in history, painted by
Alexey Bogolyubov During the Crimean War, Kornilov was responsible for the defence of Sevastopol. He was killed early in the
siege and was buried in the
Admirals' Burial Vault. == Legacy ==