Voinovich was born in
Herceg Novi,
Republic of Venice (now
Montenegro). He was a member of the
Voinović noble family, a
Serb family recognized as nobility by Venice,
Trieste in the
Habsburg monarchy, and
Imperial Russia. In 1770 Voinovich was accepted into the Russian Navy as an
ensign and saw distinguished service in the Mediterranean expedition of Russian Navy during the
Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). That same year, he requested permission from the Iranian warlord
Agha Mohammad Khan (later Shah of Iran) to found a trading post at
Ashraf (today's Behshahr). Agha Mohammad refused, but Voinovich went on to establish a temporary settlement at Qaraduvin and the
Ashurada islands. The khan then invited Voinovich and his officers to visit him in
Astarabad, where they were held hostage until Voinovich sent orders to his men to dismantle and abandon the settlement. In 1783 Voinovich was appointed the commander of the first
battleship of the nascent Black Sea Fleet. In 1785 he became the commander of
Sevastopol Squadron. From the end of 1789 to the beginning 1790 Voinovich was the Chief of the Black Sea Fleet. Although the Russian Navy won the
Battle of Fidonisi under his command, his actions in the
Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792) were considered indecisive and he was dismissed from command of the Fleet in March 1790. In 1797 Voinovich became a member of the Black Sea Admiralty Administration. He was appointed a full
Admiral in 1801 and retired in 1805. ==See also==