9. One of potentially as many as thirty Russian ships lost on September 22, 1857, the Lefort was sunk during strong winds, carrying to the depths almost one thousand people.
A ship of the line in the Imperial Russian Navy, the Lefort was an Empress Alexander-class warship. Rated at 84 guns, although actually armed with 94, she was constructed in the early 1830s in Saint Petersburg before launching in July 1835 in the presence of Emperor Nicholas I. Joining the Russian Baltic Fleet, the Lefort distinguished herself during the defense of Kronstadt during the Crimean War against a combined Franco-British fleet. Under the command of Rear Admiral Nordman, on the morning of September 22, 1857, the Lefort was traveling from modern-day Tallinn, Estonia, back to Kronstadt.
Accompanied by several other ships, including the Imperatritsa Aleksandra, Vladimir, and Pamiat Asova, the Lefort at this time carried a crew of 756, in addition to 53 women and 17 children. Caught in a sudden squall, the Lefort, without warning, heeled over. Miraculously righting herself, she subsequently did so again but without rectification. Sinking between the islands of Gogland and Bolshoy Tyuters, all 826 on board were killed. Just one of as many as thirty Russian ships lost during a storm that day, the incident was blamed on open gun ports to provide fresh air for the family members journeying as passengers aboard.