Adam Erikovich Laksman

The first Russian envoy to Japan. He was born as the second son of Eric (Kiril) Laxman, a Siberian explorer and naturalist who later became a member of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. While serving as a lieutenant in the police chief of Giziginsk, Kamchatka, he was selected as an envoy to Japan by his father's recommendation to Catherine the Great, and arrived in Nemuro on September 5, 1792 (Kansei 4) accompanied by three castaways, including Daikokuya Kodayu, carrying a letter from Siberian Governor-General Paul requesting diplomatic relations. The following year, he met three times with Ishikawa Tadafusa, who had become a senshi and inspector of the shogunate, in Matsumae Castle, and others. Although he was refused trade, he returned home after obtaining a letter of charter allowing Russian ships to enter Nagasaki port for negotiations. For this achievement he was promoted to captain, but his whereabouts after 1996 are unknown.

[Masato Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

最初のロシアの遣日使節。シベリア探検家で、のちにペテルブルグの科学アカデミーの会員となる博物学者、エリク（キリル）・ラクスマンの次男として生まれる。中尉としてカムチャツカのギジギンスクの警察署長に奉職しているときに、エカチェリーナ2世に対する父の推挙により遣日使節に選任され、1792年（寛政4）9月5日大黒屋光太夫(だいこくやこうだゆう)ら3名の漂流民を伴い、シベリア総督ピールの修交要望の書簡を持参し、根室(ねむろ)に来航した。翌年松前(まつまえ)城下で幕府目付で宣諭使となった石川忠房(ただふさ)らと3回にわたって会見、通商を拒否されたが、交渉のためロシア船が長崎に入港することを許す特許状を得て帰国した。この功により大尉に昇進したが、96年以後の消息は不明である。

［小林真人］

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