APHARIN, TIIEDOR MATVAVEYICIT, a distinguished Russian admiral, was 1). in 1671. When hardly 12 years of age, he entered the service of Peter the great, who conceived a great attachment for him, which lasted during the whole life of the monarch. In 1699, he took part in the first maneuvers of the Russian fleet at Taganrog on the sea of Azof. After the year 1700, he became the most powerful and influential person at the court of the czar, who made him chief-admiral of the Russian navy, of which, in fact, A. may he considered the creator. While Peter was fighting the Swedes in the north, A. was building war-vessels, fortresses, and wharves in !he south. In 1707, he was appointed president of the admiralty; in 1708, he defeated the Swedish general, Lubeeker, in Ingermannland, and saved the newly-built city of Petersburg from destruction; in 1710, lie captured the important t. of Viborg, in Finland; and in 1711, commanded in the Black sea during the Turkish war. The following year he returned to the north; and in 1713, with a fleet of 200 vessels, he sailed along the coast of Finland, took llclsingfors and Borgo, and defeated the Swedish fleet. The result of his great successes was that
at the peace of Nystadt. in 1721, Russia obtained some most valuable advantages, being confirmed in her possession of Finland, just conquered, and of Esthonia. In spite of his brilliant reputation, however, lie twice suffered an apparent eclipse of imperial favor. In 1714-15, he was charged with embezzlement, tried, and condemned to pay a fine; and a few years later, was denounced by Peter himself as " an oppressor of the people," and again condemned to pay a fine; but his strvices were bit) useful. to be dispensed with, and in both instance3 the czar neutralized the effect of the condemnation, by conferring upon him additional richness and dignities. In 1722, he accompanied Peter in his Persian war, and was present at the siege of Derbend. Ills last naval expedition was in 1726, when he repaired with the Russian fleet to Revel, to defend that place against an expected attack by the English. He d. at Moscow, 10th Nov., 1728, in the 57th year of his age.