Lighthouse keeper Arseni Brakmann with his family

Arseni Brakmann (10 November 1891 Võiste, Tahkuranna rural municipality – 16 February 1940 North Sea), sea captain, brother of Johann Brakmann.

In 1907 graduated from the Tahkuranna Orthodox 3-grade Parish School, 1909–12 sailed on cargo ships, 1913 the captain of K. Martinson’s sailing ship Jupiter. 1912–15 studied at Ainaži Naval School (deep-water navigator exam 1915) in the winter and spent the summers on sea. Was admitted into compulsory military service in the Imperial Russian Navy 1 October 1915, took part in First Word War I. In 1918, he entered in the Estonian service and participated in the Estonian War of Liberation. 18 November 1918 joined the Estonian Defence League as a volunteer. Since 3 December 1918 was duty officer on gunboat Lembit, since February 1919 assistant to the commander of coastal battery department, from June assistant to the commander of the sea fort department. From 1 July 1920 junior officer of the coastal battery no 3 of the Aegna Command, from February 1921 Naval training unit commando officer, from August senior officer on gunboat Ahti in Peipsi flotilla, in 1922 served in the functions of commander.

In October 1992 was released from active service and assigned the commandant of Ruhnu. In addition, also served as the lighthouse keeper, police constable, boarder guard and customs representative and forester, earning the nickname the King of Ruhnu.

20. VI 1928 was released from all these positions. Continued seafaring as a navigator on cargo ships sailing under foreign flags. Perished 16 February 1940 on the North Sea 24 miles from the coast of Scotland on Swedish steamboat Liana that was torpedoed by a German U14 submarine.

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Created in 2013