Was born on 11th (28th of February GC) March, 1816.

He was a student of Nizhyn Bezborodko physico-mathematical Lyceum (1835). While studying he became close to E. Hrebinka.

He was an inspector of school literacy, head of the museum of the Petropavlivska fortress. He established the newspaper “Petersburg’s leaf” and corrected the magazine “Spark”. He composed the Ukrainian-Russian dictionary (1855, which was not published). He wrote poetry, prose and literally critical articles. Some poems from the collection: “What was in the heart” (1855) were very close to folklore songs. He accompanied T. Shevchenko in the trip through the left bank of Ukraine (1845-1846). Precious material can be found in his “Memories of T.Shevchenko”, folk publications and ethnographic works – “A trip to the South Russia”.