Vitus Bering
Danish-born Russian explorer famed for charting the North Pacific coast.
Chronology: 1681-08-05 – 1741-12-08
Origins & Early Life
Vitus Jonassen Bering (baptised 5 August 1681 – 19 December 1741), also known as Ivan Ivanovich Bering, was a Danish-born Russian cartographer, explorer, and officer in the Russian Navy. He is known as a leader of two Russian expeditions, the First Kamchatka Expedition and the Great Northern Expedition, exploring the northeastern coast of the Asian continent and from there the western coast of the North American continent. The Bering Strait, the Bering Sea, Bering Island, the Bering Glacier, and Vitus Lake were all named in his honor. == Biography == === Early life and family background === Vitus Bering was born in the port town of Horsens in Denmark to Anne Pedderdatter and her husband Jonas Svendsen (a "customs inspector and churchwarden") and was baptized in the Lutheran church there on 5 August 1681.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
He was named after a maternal great-uncle, Vitus Pedersen Bering, who had been a chronicler in the royal court, and was not long deceased at the time of Vitus Jonassen Bering's birth. The family enjoyed reasonable financial security, with two of Vitus's elder half-brothers both attending the University of Copenhagen. === Early seafaring career === Vitus instead signed on as a ship's boy...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia