Ivan Visin


Ivan "Ivo" Visin was a naval captain of the Austro-Hungarian navy and an explorer.

Biography

Visin was born in Prčanj, then under occupation of the French Empire. On request of the government of the Habsburg monarchy, he became the first Croat to circumnavigate the globe in a vessel called Splendido between 1852 and 1859. The journey started in Antwerp and ended successfully in Trieste. The ship was 30 m long with 311 tonnes of cargo. For this undertaking of historical importance for the empire, he had been decorated with a flag of honour Merito navali by the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef. The trophy is on display in Birth of Our Lady church in Prčanj. Later, Visin became an honorary citizen of Trieste.