nebogatov was born into the family of a career naval officer in the vicinity of st petersburg and graduated from the sea cadets corps in 1869. he was promoted to lieutenant in 1874. in 1882–86 he was executive officer aboard the cruiser "razboinik" and in 1888 was given command of the gunboat "groza", followed in 1889, by the gunboat "grad". he was in command of numerous russian warships during his career, including the cruisers "krejs", "admiral nakhimov" (1896), and "minin". he was then appointed head of naval artillery training for the russian baltic fleet, and was promoted to rear admiral in 1901.