Anton Golovaty was born in 1732 in Novy Sanzhary, Poltava province, into a wealthy family of a Little Russian Cossack elder. He studied at the Kyiv Academy but did not complete his education, fleeing to the Zaporizhian Sich. The reasons for this act are unknown, but he was likely inspired by the ideals of Cossack life and military activity. In 1757, at the age of 25, he became a Cossack in the Sich.

Historian Skalkovsky notes that Golovaty was an outstanding Cossack of the Kuschiv Kurin. Due to his literacy, he was appointed to the team of the hetman. Five years later, he was elected kurin hetman, which was rare for such a young man. At 32, he was already commanding a thousand-strong detachment in battles against the Tatars on the Berd River. Golovaty participated in two Turkish wars and other battles, particularly distinguishing himself during the capture of the fortress on Berezan Island, for which he received the Order of St. George.

Anton Golovaty proved himself not only as a military leader but also as a public figure. In 1768, he became a scribe and traveled to St. Petersburg for a salary. In 1774, he was sent to the capital to defend the rights of the Zaporizhians to land. Catherine II promised forgiveness and offered the Cossacks to elect deputies for negotiations. However, soon Potemkin, no longer needing the Cossacks, ordered the destruction of the Sich.

After the destruction of the Sich, Golovaty and Sidor Bely sought to revive the Cossacks. Thanks to Golovaty's efforts, the Zaporizhians were given the opportunity to serve in Catherine II's convoy and create the Black Sea Cossack Army, which relocated to Kuban. Golovaty developed the internal regulations of the army and abolished the Military Council, which was a step towards private ownership of land.

Golovaty became the military judge and the second person after hetman Zachary Chepiga. Despite his popularity at court, the Cossacks considered him a man of his own mind. He was a model family man, marrying Ulyana Porokhna and having six sons and a daughter. After the death of his wife and daughter, his sister took on the upbringing of the children.

Historian Fedor Shcherbina describes Golovaty as a religious man, a supporter of patriarchal traditions. He built several churches and donated to the church. Golovaty valued customs and hierarchy, aspired to ranks and orders, but did not hesitate to use the Cossacks for personal gain.

In 1797, Golovaty was elected hetman, but he died of fever after the Persian campaign before he could learn of this. He was buried near Baku, on the shores of the Caspian Sea.