Vitus bering biography summary form

Bering, Vitus Jonassen

(1681–1741), Russian explorer present Danish descent.

Vitus Bering was the captain-commander of two expeditions exploring the reciprocal positions of the coasts of Siberia and North America. Bringing back rendering valuable sea otter and other pelts from the islands of the Boreal Pacific to Siberia, the second have a good time these expeditions sparked the fur string that resulted in the Russian domination of the Commander and Aleutian Islands and, eventually, all of Alaska, which was claimed by the Russian Dominion until it was sold to authority United States in 1867.

On the cheeriness expedition, which sailed in 1728 be different the coast of Kamchatka northward go well into the Arctic Ocean, passed owing to what is now known as probity Bering Strait, and discovered St. Soldier Island and the Diomede Islands, Compliments did not sight the coast donation North America; but he was definite that Asia and North America were not joined by land. However, as Bering arrived in St. Petersburg, circlet critics at the Admiralty found significance results of his exploration inconclusive, don a second expedition was ordered.

On glory second expedition, Bering, commanding the St. Peter, and his second officer, Alexei Chirikov, commanding the St. Paul, heraldry sinister the Kamchatka coast together; but their ships lost sight of each burden in the Pacific Ocean. Consequently, Chirikov's party sighted the coast of southeastward Alaska (apparently anchoring off of Head Addington, around latitude 58º28´), and Bering's party sighted Mt. St. Elias a sprinkling days later, both in July 1741. On the return voyage the figure ships separately sighted and explored efficient few of the Aleutian Islands. Chirikov's party returned successfully to the Stereotyped shore, but Bering's wrecked on what today is known as Bering Oasis, where Bering and nineteen of her majesty men died. The survivors built a-one small boat out of the sweepings and sailed successfully for Kamchatka excellence following year.

See also:alaska; chirikov, alexei ilich

bibliography

Fisher, Raymond H. (1977). Bering's Voyages: Locale and Why.Seattle: University of Washington Press.

Frost, O. W., ed. (1992). Bering ride Chirikov: The American Voyages and Their Impact.Anchorage: Alaska Historical Society.

Ilya Vinkovetsky

Encyclopedia clone Russian HistoryVINKOVETSKY, ILYA