Russian navigator of Danish origin. Vitus Bering

Vitus Bering's brief biography and interesting facts from the life of the Russian navigator, captain-commander, are presented in this article.

Vitus Bering short biography

The great navigator (life of Vitus Bering - 1681-1741) was born in Denmark, the small town of Horsens in the family of a customs officer. With his cousin and comrade, he sailed on a Dutch ship to the East Indies.

After graduating from school, the young man entered the Naval Cadet Corps. In the period 1695–1696 he took part in the Azov campaign. Soon he was enlisted as a non-commissioned officer in the Russian Navy. And in 1706 Bering received the rank of lieutenant.

Soon Peter I included him among the commanders of the expedition, which was supposed to pass from the ports of the Azov Sea around Europe to the Baltic under the Russian flag.

On behalf of the emperor, in 1725, Vitus led the first Kamchatka expedition in the Pacific Ocean, the purpose of which was to discover the isthmus between America and Asia. She was quite successful. Vitus Bering's first expedition ended with him being awarded the rank of captain-commander in 1730. Taking advantage of the emperor's favor, he was again appointed leader of the second Kamchatka expedition. It began in 1733. Its result is a survey of Alaska and the mapping of the outlines of the land's shores, as well as the Aleutian and Kuril Islands. In addition, on the way home, the navigator encountered a number of previously unexplored lands. These islands are named after Vitus Bering in today's time, or rather part of them. Here the team stayed for the winter. Most of the sailors died of scurvy, including the commander himself. Vitus Bering's journey ended on December 8, 1741, with his death.

Vitus Bering interesting facts

Bering's parents were quite wealthy people; his two older brothers studied at the university in Copenhagen. Young Bering himself chose a different path and, barely 15 years old, hired himself as a cabin boy on a ship.

From 60 years of his life Vitus Bering 38 was in Russian service. Of these, 15 years were spent on Kamchatka expeditions.

In Russia they called him Ivan Ivanovich.

All domestic sources indicate Bering's date of birth - August 12, 1681. But where this date came from is unknown. After all, from the church books of Denmark it is known that he was baptized on August 5, 1681. Therefore, we can make a more accurate guess about the date of his birth - most likely it happened on August 2, 1681.

He was named after his uncle, his mother's brother: the chronicler of the Royal Court.

In 1713 he married Anna Christina, the daughter of a burgher. It is known that the couple had 8 children, of whom only 4 survived. Due to her husband's duties, the wife also had to get used to seafaring to accompany him everywhere.

An island, a strait and a sea in the North Pacific Ocean, as well as the Commander Islands, are named after Bering.

Bering's merits were not immediately recognized. The first traveler to confirm the accuracy of Bering's research was the English navigator James Cook. It was he who proposed giving the name Bering to the Strait between Chukotka and Alaska.

Vitus Bering Parken (Horsens)

First Kamchatka expedition

The first Kamchatka expedition traveled from St. Petersburg to Okhotsk for two years, from January to January - through Siberia, on horseback, on foot, and on river boats. After spending the winter here, the expedition transported its equipment by boat and dog sled to the mouth of the Kamchatka River on the western coast of the peninsula, where the construction of the boat "St. Gabriel" was completed by the summer. In July-August, the ship sailed north and then northeast along the mainland. During the voyage, Karaginsky Bay with an island, Cross Bay, Providence Bay, Anadyr Bay and St. Lawrence Island were identified.

The expedition, as it later turned out, went through the Bering Strait into the Chukchi Sea (the North American coast was not discovered), and then turned back, since Bering considered the task completed: it was shown that the Asian and North American coasts are not connected.

There is often a statement that it was during the Second Kamchatka Expedition that Europeans (Russians) discovered the shores of North America (Alaska), but this is not true. The first Russian ship to approach the coast of North America (Alaska) was the boat “St. Gabriel" under the command of surveyor M. S. Gvozdev and navigator I. Fedorov on August 21 during the expedition of A. F. Shestakov and D. I. Pavlutsky - Messrs. In addition, there is fragmentary information about Russian people visiting America in the 17th century.

Recognition of merit

It took considerable time before Bering's merits were fully recognized. The first traveler to confirm the accuracy of Bering's research was the English navigator James Cook. It was he who proposed giving the name Bering to the Strait between Chukotka and Alaska.

Vitus Jonassen Bering (born August 12, 1681 - death December 8 (19), 1741) - Danish navigator, captain-commander of the Russian fleet (1730) Was the leader of the 1st and 2nd (1725-30 and 1732-41) Kamchatka expedition. He passed between the Chukotka Peninsula and Alaska, reached North America and discovered a number of islands of the Aleutian chain. The strait between Eurasia and North America, an island in the group of Commander Islands (also named after him) and the sea in the North Pacific Ocean were named after Bering. 1741, December - on the way back during the winter, Bering died on an island (later named after him), located east of Kamchatka.

Service in the Dutch and Russian fleets

He was born in the seaside town of Horsens in Jutland in 1681. Before moving to Russia, in his youth Bering sailed twice to the East Indies on Dutch ships. 1703 - graduated from the naval cadet corps in Amsterdam and was accepted into service in the Russian fleet as a lieutenant. 1710 - he was transferred to the Azov Fleet as a captain-lieutenant and took part in the Prut campaign (1711). In 1712-1723, rising in rank and commanding various ships, he served in the Baltic. 1724, February 26 - resigned. And after 5 months he turned to Peter I with a request to re-enter his service. The request was granted, and with the rank of captain 1st rank, that is, with promotion, Bering returned to the fleet.

Reasons for expeditions

But Vitus Bering was not able to become famous for his service in the Baltic and Azov Seas and military merits. Fame came to him after two major marine scientific expeditions in the Pacific and Arctic oceans, the latter of which is rightly called the Great. Bering volunteered to command the first one himself, in the hope of rising to the rank of rear admiral and providing for his family and his old age.

Peter I, having far-reaching plans, decided to find out whether there was a passage between Eurasia and America (the court did not know about Semyon Dezhnev’s voyage). If it was discovered, the plan was to begin sailing along the Northern Sea Route to the eastern shores of Russia, to China and India.

First Kamchatka expedition

Vitus Bering began to carry out the royal order. Two weeks later - January 25, 1725 - the first members of the expedition were sent from St. Petersburg to Kamchatka. The group included two more naval officers (Alexey Chirikov and Martyn Shpanberg), and a crew totaling about 100 people.

The road turned out to be difficult and difficult. There were different ways to get there: carts, sleighs with dogs, river boats. Upon arrival in Okhotsk in 1727, they began building ships to carry out the main tasks of the expedition. On these ships, Bering reached the Western coast of Kamchatka. In Nizhnekamchatsk, the warship “St. Gabriel” was rebuilt, on which the sailors set off further. The ship passed through the strait between Alaska and Chukotka, but due to bad weather the sailors were unable to see the shores of the American continent.

The purpose of the expedition was partially fulfilled. But, returning to St. Petersburg in 1730, Vitus, submitting a report on the work done, drew up a project for the next expedition. For the most part, the top officials of the state and academicians did not understand, like the navigator himself, what he had discovered. But the main thing has been proven - Asia and America are not connected. And Vitus Bering received the rank of captain-commander.

Second Kamchatka expedition

Upon the traveler's return, his words, notes and maps were treated with a certain distrust. He had to defend his honor and justify the highest trust placed in him. So, a second expedition was appointed, under the command of Bering. According to the biography written by the navigator’s contemporaries, it is said that, shortly before the first trip to the shores of Kamchatka, a certain Shestakov discovered both the strait and even the Kuril Islands. But all these discoveries did not have documentary evidence. But Bering was educated, could structure and analyze the results obtained, and was good at making maps.

The second expedition had the following tasks: to explore the sea from Kamchatka to Japan and the mouth of the Amur, to map the entire northern coast of Siberia, to reach the American coast and to establish trade with the natives, if any were found there.

Despite the fact that Russia was already reigning, Russia was still faithful to Peter’s covenants. That’s why the Admiralty became interested in the project. The decree on the second expedition was issued in 1732. Having reached Okhotsk, in 1740 the navigator built two packet boats - “St. Peter” and “St. Paul”. “St. Peter” was taken under command by Vitus Bering himself, and “St. Paul” was commanded by Chirikov. With them, the expedition reached the coast of Kamchatka, went around its southern tip and entered Avacha Bay. Here they stopped for the winter and founded the port city of Petropavlovsk, named after both ships.

1741, June 5 - the voyage continued. The ships sailed together for about three weeks, and then lost sight of each other. Finally, both of them reached the American coast. The first was "St. Paul".

"St. Peter" was able to reach the shores of America a day later, on July 17, 1741 at north latitude 58°14?. There were no Europeans there yet. The sailors saw mountain ranges with snowy peaks. The highest was called Mount St. Elias. Then we moved along the coast to about. Kayak.

From here began the return voyage, which ended tragically. The crew was exhausted by scurvy, storms and fog. The sailor Shumagin was the first to die, and the nearby newly discovered islands were named in his honor. The sailors' strength was fading. The 60-year-old captain-commander himself fell ill.

Vitus Bering and Alexey Chirikov in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 1740

Death

In the end, the shore appeared, which was mistaken for Kamchatka. There the Saint Peter was wrecked. It turned out that this was an uninhabited island from a group later named the Commander Islands in honor of Commander Bering. We had to spend the winter there. 19 people died. Vitus Bering was one of the first to die on December 8, 1741, completing his 38-year track record for the benefit of Russia with the discovery and exploration of the coasts of Alaska and the extreme northeastern tip of Asia, never before seen by Europeans. The survivors dismantled the ship the following summer and built a small ship, on which they were able to reach Kamchatka in August 1742.

Vitus Bering's expedition was caught in a storm near the Aleutian Islands - 1741

Heritage

The merits of the captain-commander were not soon recognized. Only in 1778, at the proposal of the commander who completed the work of the commander on the coast of Northeast Asia, the strait between Cape Dezhnev and Alaska was named the Bering Sea, and the marginal sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean located to the south was named the Bering Sea. Bering's ship's logs were published only in 1922 in New York (the materials of the expedition were considered secret).

And now fierce disputes regarding the assessment of Bering’s actions in both expeditions continue. Many scientists consider the discovery (secondary after Dezhnev) of the Bering Strait and the shores of America adjacent to Asia to be the merit of Chirikov. The commander is accused of being too cautious and calculating. But whatever the mistakes of the expedition leader, real or imaginary, he was, is and will be one of the most significant figures in the entire history of geographical discoveries.

The birth of the future navigator was not marked by any important events. No one imagined that the child would become not just a sailor, but a great discoverer, and even in the service of another state. It is difficult to say what reasons prompted the boy to enter the naval service in the Russian Empire: our power was not so powerful at that time. Perhaps Bering was able to see certain prospects for himself. Which to some extent contributed to the discoveries he made, which were of practical, geographical, and historical significance. Bering not only discovered new lands and islands in the north of the country, but also compiled maps of the coast, which was extremely important.

First years of life

Vitus Bering was born on August 12, 1681 in Jutland (modern Denmark) in the city of Horsens. The town was nothing special: several churches and monasteries - that’s all the attractions. It began to develop only after 1442, when it was issued a trade charter, and gradually turned into a commercial center.

The city was located on the seashore and had a port. From the first years of his life, the hero of our story admired the waves and dreamed of travel. Although his father was, according to some historians, a customs officer, and never left his native place. It is not very clear for what reason, but at the very beginning of his sailor career, the teenager took his mother’s surname.

The sea beckoned the boy, so it is not surprising that, having reached adolescence, he entered the naval cadet corps in Amsterdam, and in 1703, at the age of 22, he successfully graduated from it. But before that, Vitus Bering made a short trip to the East Indies on a Dutch ship. Apparently, after this, the future traveler Bering made a firm decision to connect his fate with the sea.

In the service of Peter I

How did Vitus Bering get into the Russian fleet? His biography does not contain accurate information on this matter. It is only known that at that time, by order of the Russian sovereign Peter the Great, Admiral of the Russian Fleet Cornelius Ivanovich Kruys was recruiting experienced sailors for service. Sievers and Senyavin introduced the boy, stating that he had already visited the East Indies, therefore, he still had some experience. It is known from other sources that Vitus wanted to serve, like his cousin Sivers, in the navy, and certainly in the Russian Empire. Be that as it may, his dream came true, and Bering went to St. Petersburg. There he was assigned to manage a ship that transported timber for the construction of the Kronstadt fortress. Not God knows what, but still the sea!

Soon Vitus Bering received the rank of lieutenant and began to carry out more responsible and complex assignments. He took part in the Azov campaign, monitored the movement of Swedish ships in the Gulf of Finland, participated in the campaign from Arkhangelsk to Kronstadt, and served on the ship "Pearl" when ferrying it from Hamburg to St. Petersburg. And suddenly, without reaching the rank of captain of the first rank, Bering left military service.

Vitus Bering's track record

If we put in chronological order all the ranks and titles that the navigator Bering received during his military career, we get the following table:

These are the titles and honors Vitus Bering received during his 20 years of service. A short biography, however, does not reveal all the merits of the navigator. For historians and geographers, the subsequent part of his life is more interesting.

Development and annexation of Kamchatka to the Russian Empire

The ever-increasing oppression of serfdom could not but affect the history of Russia. Escaped peasants were looking for lands that would serve them as a refuge from persecution. So gradually people reached Siberia, and then Kamchatka. But the territory was already populated, so campaigns were organized to seize and develop lands rich in furs, etc. In 1598 it was defeated, and the territory became part of the Russian Empire.

The need to study Kamchatka

The development of Kamchatka and other Siberian lands was a matter of national importance. First of all, it was necessary to replenish the treasury. But the pioneers were mostly poorly educated people who primarily looked for minerals, discovered new territories and taxed the local population. The state needed maps of new lands, as well as a sea route.

In 1724, Peter the Great issued a decree on organizing a campaign against Kamchatka, headed by Vitus Bering. The traveler was ordered to get to Kamchatka, build two ships and go to the North on them, find the place where America connects with Siberia, and find a way from there to the cities of Europe.

The first Kamchatka expedition of Vitus Bering

Having received the position of leader and title, the future traveler began to carry out the order of the sovereign. After 2 weeks - January 25, 1725 - the first members of the expedition set off from St. Petersburg to Kamchatka. The group included two more naval officers (Alexey Chirikov and Martyn Shpanberg), surveyors, shipbuilders, navigators, rowers, sailors, and cooks. The total number reached 100 people.

The road turned out to be difficult and difficult. We had to get there in various ways: carts, sleighs with dogs, river boats. Arriving in Okhotsk in 1727, they began building ships to carry out the main tasks of the expedition. On these ships, Vitus Bering reached the Western coast of Kamchatka. The warship “St. Gabriel” was rebuilt in Nizhnekamchatsk, on which the navigator and his crew set off further. The ship passed through the strait between Alaska and Chukotka, but due to weather conditions the sailors were unable to see the shores of the American continent.

The goals of the expedition were partially achieved. However, returning in 1730, he submits a report on the work done and draws up a project for the next expedition. Most of the top officials of the state and academicians did not understand, like Vitus Bering himself, what he had discovered. But the main thing has been proven - Asia and America are not connected. And the traveler received the rank of captain-commander.

Second expedition to Kamchatka

After the navigator returned, his words, notes and maps were treated with a certain distrust. He had to defend his honor and justify the highest trust placed in him. And the goals have not all been achieved yet. You can't stop halfway. So, a second expedition is appointed, and Vitus Bering commands it. A biography written by the traveler’s contemporaries claims that, shortly before the first trip to the shores of Kamchatka, a certain Shestakov discovered both the strait and even the Kuril Islands. But all these discoveries were not documented. The Dane was lucky - he was educated, knew how to structure and analyze the results obtained, and was good at making maps.

The second expedition of Vitus Bering had the following goals: exploring the sea from Kamchatka to Japan and the mouth of the Amur, mapping the entire northern coast of Siberia, reaching the American coast and trading with the natives, if any were found there.

Despite the fact that Anna Ioannovna sat on the imperial throne, Russia still remained faithful to Peter’s covenants. Therefore, influential officials from the Admiralty became interested in the project. The decree on the campaign was issued in 1732. Having reached Okhotsk, in 1740 Bering built two packet boats - “St. Peter” and “St. Paul”. On them, researchers reached the eastern coast of Kamchatka.

Expedition results

This time it was more successful. But at the same time tragic - during the winter in 1741, Vitus Bering died. What he discovered could only be appreciated later. After all, at that time it was difficult to verify the reliability of the results of his works - the road to Siberia was still too dependent on the vagaries of nature. But even then, travelers had already begun to use the maps compiled by Vitus Bering. The discoveries of the great pioneer made it possible to begin the development and exploitation of new lands.

So, the following was done:

• Petropavlovsk was founded in Achinsk Bay.
• The coast of Alaska was reached through the modern Bering Sea.
• On the way back, the Aleutian and Shumagin Islands are discovered.
• The Aleutian Range is mapped.
• The Evdokeevsky Islands and Chirikov Island (Tumanny) were discovered and mapped.
• Bering Island was discovered, on which the navigator died in 1741.
• The territories of northern and eastern Russia and the interior territories of Siberia are mapped.
• The Kuril Islands have been mapped.
• The way to Japan has been found.

If you carefully study the history of geographical discoveries, you will find that this expedition was only part of a larger campaign. It was completed only a few years later after Bering’s death, and even then only thanks to his organizational talent. After all, it was he who divided the participants of the Northern Expedition into groups, giving each specific tasks. Despite the human losses, the campaign was completed very successfully.

What did Vitus Bering look like?

Some biographers have doubts about the discoverer's appearance. It turns out that the familiar pictures depicting Vitus Bering (there were no photographs then) do not correspond to reality. These are portraits of his uncle. The controversy was resolved by examining the skull and recreating the appearance using modeling. As a result, the real face of the traveler was obtained. Indeed, Vitus Bering (photos presented in the article) had a completely different appearance. But this does not in any way detract from the importance of his discoveries.

The character of the great navigator

According to available information, the navigator had a somewhat soft character, which was not at all suitable for the head of the expedition. And yet Bering is appointed to this position twice. One more oddity should be noted. The Siberian explorer did not like to bring things to the final result - he could stop at the moment when the goal was just a stone's throw away. This feature of Bering was noted by both friends and hikers. And yet, it was he who was recommended as a leader and organizer to both Peter the Great and Anna Ioannovna. How can this be explained? It must be that, despite all his shortcomings, Vitus Bering was an experienced navigator. He knew how to carry out orders, was very responsible and efficient, and, no less important, devoted to the state in whose service he was. Yes, most likely, it was precisely for these qualities that he was chosen to carry out such important geographical research.

Kamchatka explorer's grave

After Vitus Bering met his death on the island that he had discovered, he was buried and, according to the traditions of that time, a wooden cross was erected. It is clear that over time the tree decayed and crumbled. However, in 1864, at the place where, according to the records of Bering’s associates, his grave was located, a new wooden cross was installed. This was the merit of the Russian-American company founded under Emperor Paul.

In 1991, a search expedition was organized to the burial places of the Siberian explorer. The grave of not only Bering, but also five other sailors was discovered on the island. The remains were recovered and sent to Moscow for research. The traveler's appearance was reconstructed from the bones and skull. Scientists were also able to find out that he died not from scurvy, as previously assumed, but from another disease (which one is not known for certain). After completing the research, the remains were returned to the island and reburied.

Objects that bear the name of the great navigator

In memory of the traveler and his contribution to geographical research, the following objects are named after him:

• Streets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Tomsk, Yakutsk.
• Island, strait, cape, glacier, sea.
• Icebreaker and diesel-electric ship.
• State University in Kamchatka.
• Plants that grow in the Far East.

In addition, the film “The Ballad of Bering and His Friends” was shot about the traveler.

The significance of the navigator's discoveries

It is impossible not to recognize the importance of Vitus Bering’s sea voyages. It was thanks to him that the first well-drawn maps of Siberia appeared. Subsequently, this greatly helped the development of the Asian part of the Russian Empire. Thanks to his expeditions, active development of the region began. Mineral extraction began, and the mining and foundry industries began to develop.

The Russian Empire received an influx of money into the treasury and new territories, and its global importance and influence increased. And most importantly, the country got the opportunity to trade with those countries that could not be reached by already mastered routes. After all, these territories were under the jurisdiction of other states, which charged considerable fees for crossing them. However, despite all his merits, Vitus Bering received recognition posthumously, only after confirmation of his discoveries by other travelers. So, the now well-known one got its name from the light hand of James Cook.

Islands, northwestern coast of America.

Originally, Bering was born in 1680 in Jutland; and in 1704 he was accepted by Tsar Peter into the navy with the rank of midshipman, as he had already sailed around to India on Dutch ships. Considered one of the best captains, Bering, until 1724, successively commanded the ships Selafail, Pearl, Malburg and Lesnoye and took an active part in military operations at sea against. In 1724, Bering retired, offended by his lack of promotion to the rank of captain of the 1st rank; six months later, Peter ordered the Admiralty Board to invite him to serve again and give him the desired rank.

Concerned about the development and beginning of trade relations with and other eastern countries, Peter I was interested in the question of whether passage from Arkhangelsk to the Pacific Ocean was possible, in other words, whether there was a strait between Asia and America. To clarify this issue, Peter decided to send a scientific expedition under the command of Bering. 23 Dec 1724, shortly before his death, the Tsar gave Ivan Ivanovich the following instructions in his own hand: “1) one or two boats with decks must be made in Kamchatka or in another place; 2) on these boats near the land that goes north and according to hope (they don’t know the end of it) it seems that that land is part of America, and in order to look for where it converged with America, and to get to which city of European possession, or if they see a European ship, find out from it what this shore is called, and take it in writing, and visit the shore yourself, and take the original report and, putting it on, come here.”

The expedition included: Lieutenant Chirikov, several scientists and surveyors and up to 40 lower ranks; Subsequently, Lieutenant Shpanberg, Midshipman Chaplin and 60 other lower ranks and artisans joined the expedition. Having completed the preparations, Chirikov and part of the expedition on January 24, 1725 (4 days before Peter’s death) left for Vologda and here around February 15 he joined forces with the rest of his companions. From here the entire expedition headed east and on the 44th day of the journey arrived in Tobolsk.

Bering's first Kamchatka expedition

In June 1726, Bering arrived in Yakutsk, and on June 30, 1727 - in Okhotsk, spending almost two and a half years on the road. Having replenished supplies here, Bering set off by sea from Okhotsk to Kamchatka to Bolsheretsk, and from there by land he moved to Nizhnekamchatsk (March 11, 1728), where he immediately began building the deck boat “Gabriel” for the upcoming sea voyage. On July 13, with supplies for a year's voyage, Bering left Kamchatka for the sea, heading north, to the place of the supposed separation of Asia and America. Unfamiliarity with the conditions of northern navigation, imperfect construction of ships, the late season, constant fogs and stormy seas made it very difficult for Bering to complete his task. Having spent more than a month on the open sea, Bering passed almost the entire strait, which was later named after him, and crossed the Arctic Circle. From inquiries with other inhabitants of Kamchatka, Bering became convinced that this coast further turns to the west, and to the north there is a body of water without any signs of land.

The testimony of the Chukchi in different places was exactly the same and confirmed Bering in the idea that Asia and America are not united. To check this, the traveler moved away from the coast and decided to move to the northeast. Having lost sight of the land and for a long time not meeting the expected American coast, Bering did not dare to continue the journey, fearing to get caught in the ice and be crushed by it in an unknown sea. His companions had the same opinions. The expedition returned to winter in Nizhnekamchatsk, where it arrived on September 2, 1728. During this voyage, Bering discovered an island off the eastern coast of Kamchatka, which was later named after him.

After wintering in Nizhnekamchatsk, Ivan Ivanovich built the second boat “Fortune” and, having assigned Chirikov to it, on June 5, 1729, he again went to sea with both ships. This time Bering decided to go east. Having made the transition about 200 km. and not finding land, the explorer was forced to return to Okhotsk. The second voyage finally convinced Bering of the existence of an unknown land to the east, separated from Asia by a sea strait.

Considering his mission completed, Bering left for St. Petersburg and here presented a map of his voyages to the Admiralty Board along with a detailed report on the need to equip a new expedition to explore the entire northern coast and the open strait. Having examined the maps, journals and report on the voyage presented by the traveler, the Admiralty Board was incredulous about the issue of the strait, but as a reward for the work incurred, it nominated Bering to the rank of captain-commander.

Bering's proposal to equip a new expedition, after consideration by the Senate and the Admiralty Board, was approved. It consisted of the following: to take measures for the organization of the Okhotsk Territory and Kamchatka, to explore the routes to America and Japan and to make an inventory of the entire northern coast of Russia between the Lena and Rivers. Simultaneously with the plan of the expedition, Bering raised a number of questions concerning the improvement of our Siberian outskirts: the questions raised by him portray Ivan Ivanovich as a man of statesmanship, a worthy associate of Peter the Great. These questions boil down to the following:

• On the need for religious education between and other tribes;
• On the establishment of smelting plants on the river for extraction from local;
• On the organization of regular regiments from local residents;
• About the breeding of Russian breeds of horses and cattle in the Okhotsk and Kamchatka territories, of which there are few there, but the pastures are rich and the land is fertile;
• About the establishment and shipyards, the development of the mining industry, changes in the yasak system, the development of fishing, animal husbandry, and the like;
• On the foundation of maritime trade with Japan.

Bering explained each of these points in detail with observations made. Bering's project, approved by the Senate and the Admiralty Board, met with the full sympathy of Empress Anna Ioannovna. On April 17, 1732, the Highest Decree followed, in which Bering’s proposals were recognized as fully consistent with “the state benefit and the increase in our interest” and it was ordered to equip a second Kamchatka expedition. The spirit of Peter still lived among the people in power, and therefore there was no shortage of sympathy and support for Bering’s broad plans.

Second Kamchatka expedition (or first academic) 1733 – 43 years

The expedition included all the cream of Russian science of that time. Participants from the fleet were: Bering himself, the talented Chirikov, Shpanberg, the Laptev brothers, Ovtsyn, Malygin, Skuratov, Pronchishchev, Chelyuskin, Vaksel, Sterlegov (all famous for their discoveries), another 48 officers, midshipmen and navigators, 13 officials, skippers, boatswains , 18 healers and sub-healers; from the Academy of Sciences - academicians Miller, Gmelin, De la Croer, Professor Fischer, Steller, 5 students, 16 surveyors, 5 masters of various specialties, translators, painters and 6 “miners” (miners), 1 pastor, 6 priests and more 600 sailors, soldiers and craftsmen.

The expedition was divided into detachments that were supposed to simultaneously begin research and inventory of the entire coast of the Arctic Ocean: from Arkhangelsk to the Ob and Lena Rivers, Kamchatka, and from the coast to Japan. Bering and Chirikov on two ships were supposed to sail from Kamchatka to explore the shores of America and finally resolve the issue of the strait. Shpanberg with three ships is sent to explore and establish relations with this country. The Laptev brothers and other officers on three double boats are making an inventory of the northern coast between the mouths and; in addition, one or two ships were supposed to carry out an inventory of the coast from Arkhangelsk to the Ob. In addition to the scientific goals, there was also a state goal - to extend the rule of Russia to the newly discovered lands and islands. All instructions on this matter ordered the expedition to treat the peoples and tribes who were coming under Russian citizenship in the most kind manner. Bering was appointed head of the entire expedition, Chirikov was his assistant and deputy. The expedition was designed to last 6 years, and the preparations for it were enormous: no expense was really spared, and its equipment was the most extensive at that time. The dispatch of detachments to various points on the northern coast began in the spring of 1732. With great effort, overcoming the difficulties of the journey, the parties gradually arrived at their places, built the necessary vessels and began work. At this time, members of the academy, distributed among individual areas, carried out the scientific research assigned to them.

Expedition to American shores

Only by 1740 were the necessary ships, “St. Peter” and “St. Paul” built, and Bering crossed the sea to Kamchatka. Having chosen a good bay, the traveler founded a port here and called it “Peter and Paul Harbor”. On June 4, 1741, Ivan Ivanovich went to sea. It was decided to go together to the southeast until land was encountered. On June 20, a storm separated the ships, and they never met again. Chirikov (“Saint Paul”) was the first to see the land - on July 15, at latitude 55° 21` north. and debt. 61° 55` w. Coming closer, Chirikov became convinced that he was off the coast of America. Both boats he sent ashore were captured by the natives, and Chirikov had to return to Kamchatka.

Bering saw the shore only on July 20 - it was the island of St. Elias (Kayak). Fearing being caught by the winds, the captain replenished his water supplies and set off on the return journey. The unfavorable situation pressed the ship to the shores, and Bering had to stand at anchor several times. During this time, the island of Archdeacon Stefan (Misty) and the Evdokeevskie islands were discovered. Meanwhile, illnesses began to develop among the crew; Bering himself was very ill, and command passed to Lieutenant Ovtsyn.

Constant storms, cold weather, lack of provisions and water soon brought the crew into the saddest situation. Dead reckoning was almost lost, the weakened people could barely control the sails. 2-3 people died every day. On November 4, we finally saw land that was mistaken for the Kamchatka coast, and we approached it. It turned out to be an island, later named after Bering. Due to the disrepair of the ship and illnesses, it was decided to spend the winter here. They began to dig holes in the sand and cover them with tarpaulins and sails. 12 people died during the voyage. Of those who remained, many died during transport to the shore, the rest were in the saddest condition. Captain Bering himself and most of the officers were seriously ill, and they were carried wrapped up and placed in dug holes.

It was getting cold. The island turned out to be empty, without forest, although with water. The impossible living conditions in the pits led to severe mortality. One of the first, 8 Dec. 1742, Bering died; the survivors spent about 9 months here. In the spring, having broken their ship, they built a smaller one out of it and, after a 2-week voyage, finally reached Avacha Bay, from where in 1743 they reached Okhotsk. Thus ended the first big expedition. Despite all the failures, over the course of ten years (1733-43), Russian sailors and academicians for the first time traversed and described the northern shores of Russia from the mouths of Kamchatka, explored Siberia to its extreme southern and eastern limits, made 2 voyages to Northern Japan and Finally, the western shores of America, the Kuril and Aleutian Islands, were discovered, and the existence of a “northern passage” to the Pacific Ocean was proven. Participants in various parties, upon returning to St. Petersburg, presented their works in the form of maps, inventories and journals, and academicians Steller and others left interesting notes about the trip and works on the inventory of Siberia. In 1822, the first monument to Bering was erected at his grave, and in 1866, at the initiative of Captain 1st Rank Ricord, a monument was erected to him in Petropavlovsk.