Universal History Annotation << Back The Problem of Scientific Institute Organization Within the Naval Department of Russian Empire in the First Quarter of the 19th Century Merkulova A.E. article examines the problem of organizing the State Admiralty department (1805–1827) that was among the fi rst scientifi c institutions of the Naval department. The purpose of the study is to identify changes in the structure, powers and functions of the department throughout its existence. Based on legislative sources and documents of management and record keeping, the author shows that the department was originally conceived both as a scientifi c institution and as a management body for departmental infrastructure and manufacture. The author retraces the process of department formation, changes of its organization structure and responsibilities. Subsequently, the sphere of its duties was limited to scientifi c and research and organizational activities, and the question arose about the appropriateness of the content of the department’s activities to the form of its organization. During the reform of 1827, the department was abolished, and two new scientifi c institutions were created in its place. The history of the creation, transformation and abolition of the department demonstrates the search for the optimal organization of the science body in the Naval department that took place in the fi rst quarter of the 19th century. Keywords: State Admiralty department, scientific institutions, Naval department, 19th century. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.04.2024.1209 Pp. 03-07.