Ismail,

Ismail, a town and river-port in the Russian government of Bessarabia, stands on the north bank of the Kilia branch of the Danube, 48 miles from the mouth of that river. Formerly a Turkish fortress, it was taken and destroyed by Suwaroff in December 1790; came into possession of Russia in 1812; was assigned to Moldavia by the treaty of Paris, 1856, its fortifications being razed; and was transferred to Russia again by the Berlin Congress of 1878. It has an active trade in corn, wool, tallow, and hides. Pop. with the adjoining Tutchkoff (1866) 31,779; (1897) 31,293.