Leonty Spafaryev

• Name — Leontiy Spafaryev Леонтий Васильевич Спафарьев • Born — 19 March 1765 • Died — 30 January 1847 • Place of death — Saint Petersburg, Russia • Allegiance — Russia • Service Years — 1777–1838 • Rank — Lieutenant-General • Branch — Russia Russian Lighthouse Admin. • Commands — Transport vessel "Margarita"

Spafariev was an important contributor to the improvement of navigation along the Russian coasts. The first lighthouses in Russia were built during tsar Peter the Great's drive for reform and modernization at the beginning of the 18th century. However, it was only in 1807, when the Russian Lighthouse Administration was created under the Russian Hydrographic Service, that the Russian lighthouse system followed an organized pattern, becoming effective and efficient. This office was established by the Russian Navy and it began under the leadership of Leontiy V. Spafaryev. In 1820, Spafariev published his essay "Description of the lighthouses of Finland and Gulf of Riga", a highly valued work by hydrographers. As a cartographer, perhaps his most outstanding work is the "Atlas of the Gulf of Finland", published in 1817. His name is spelt as "Spafarief" or "Spafarieff" in the United States.

The authorities additionally record the headings Leontiy Spafaryev and Leonty Vasilyevich Spafaryev. He was the child of Vasily Spafaryev.

Leonty Spafaryev is recorded as having received Order of St.