Ivan Unkovsky

Ivan Semyonovich Unkovsky (Иван Семёнович Унковский; 29 March 1822 – 11 August 1886), was an admiral, explorer and surveyor of the Imperial Russian Navy. After his navy years, Unkovsky formed opposition against Tsar Alexander II's legal system, and was exiled from Russia in 1861.

As commander of the frigate Pallada (1822–1886) Unkovsky led a Russian scientific expedition, together with Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin, to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. This expedition began in 1852 and reached the coast of Japan in 1855, contributing many important discoveries in oceanography.

Unkovsky also played a role in the 19th century Treaty of Shimoda, a commercial treaty between Japan and Russia which was followed by the opening of the Russian Foreign Settlementy at Nagasaki.

An island in the Nordenskiöld Archipelago was named after this Russian explorer.