Ivan Vasilyev

Ivan Vasilyev was a Russian explorer and navigator of the Imperial Russian Navy. He accompanied Leonty Andrianovich Gagemeister on ship "Neva" to explore the coasts of Alaska and the North Pacific in 1806.

Vasilyev explored the Alexander Archipelago and the many coastal Islands in the area. In 1809 he surveyed the western shore of Baranof Island and at an unknown date "died in the service."

Navigator Ivan Vasilyev should not be confused with explorer Mikhail Vasilyev, or with another Captain Vasiliev about whom Krusenstern says: "It is much to be regretted that the hydrographic works of a naval officer, Vasilief, who was in the employment of the American Company, were lost... Provided with a sextant and chronometer and with much zeal and attachment for his profession, he had during his sojourn in our American colonies made a complete survey of all of the Aleutian Islands without having had specific instructions to do so. Unfortunately he was drowned in Okhotsk harbor on his return from America to Russia, and what became of his precious papers and drawings is unknown..." [Krusenstern, Recueuil de mémoires hydrographiques, 1827, Vol. II, p. 76]

Ivan Vasilyev's name is spelt as "Vasilief" in the United States, where he is also known as "Ivan Vasiliev the first", in order to differentiate him from other Russian mariners and early explorers of Alaska also named "Vasilyev". [ [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=108:3:7904351601948579158::NO::P3_FID:1415546 USGS] ]

Vasilief Bank close to Sitka and Vasilief Rock in Kodiak Island were named after him. [ [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=108:3:7904351601948579158::NO::P3_FID:1411635 USGS Vasilief Bank] ] There are other geographic features in the coast of Alaska and the Aleutians bearing the name "Vasilief", but it is not clear after which Vasilyev they were named.

References

* [http://explorenorth.com/library/history/geodic-ak-1902-V.html The Naming of Alaska]