Vasily Stepanovich Zavoyko, admiral of the Russian Imperial Navy, was a participant in the Battle of Navarino and a circumnavigator. He was one of the first to begin exploring the Pacific coast and was appointed the first military governor of Kamchatka. During the Crimean War (1853, 1856), he organized and led the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

It is believed that Vasily Stepanovich was born in 1809. At the age of nine, he entered the Nikolaev Nautical School. From 1821 to 1839, he served on various ships of the Black Sea and Baltic fleets and made two circumnavigations.

On August 5, 1850, at the age of forty, Zavoyko became the first governor of Kamchatka. From 1851 to 1854, more than 30 buildings were constructed in Petropavlovsk port, including warehouses, shops, barracks, officers' quarters, offices, a treasury, and private houses. Thanks to Zavoyko's efforts, the city came to life, and the population increased fourfold: from 370 residents in 1848 to 1594 in 1854.

Zavoyko fought against the unfair treatment of local residents by merchants. At his initiative, trade fairs were held under the supervision of officials to protect the Kamchadals from deception. He also brought in medical professionals to treat the local population. On his suggestion, cows were brought from Okhotsk, and the Nikolaev livestock farm was established. A mill was built in Klyuchi, and in Milkov, a weaving workshop for producing linen from nettles was created. A road was also laid from Petropavlovsk port to the village of Avacha.

Zavoyko had a large family; by the summer of 1854, he had nine children. However, he fully dedicated himself to serving his country, while his wife, Yulia Georgievna, took care of the family. They lived modestly.

Zavoyko's organizational and military talent was vividly displayed during the defense of Petropavlovsk port against the Anglo-French squadron in August 1854. He achieved victory, becoming a hero of the Crimean War, despite it being unsuccessful for Russia. The enemy, with 2,640 men and 212 cannons, failed to capture the city and retreated, suffering defeat from 988 Russian warriors with 68 cannons.

Vasily Stepanovich Zavoyko, the first governor of Kamchatka, passed away in 1898.