Ivan Filippovich Vasiliev (Vasilyev, Vasil'ev) (1776 – July 1812) (referred to in some records as "Ivan Vasiliev the First") was a Russian
explorer and
navigator of the
Imperial Russian Navy. He accompanied Leonty Andrianovich Hagemeister (1780–1833) on ship ''Neva'' to explore the coasts of
Alaska and the North Pacific in 1806.
Vasiliev explored the
Alexander Archipelago and the many coastal Islands in the area. In 1809 he surveyed the western shore of
Baranof Island.
Ivan F. Vasiliev should not be confused with explorer
Mikhail Vasilyev (1770–1847) or with another navigator named Ivan Yakovlevich (Iakovlevich) Vasiliev (Vasil'ev) (1797 - died after 1838).
Krusenstern says this about Ivan Filippovich Vasiliev:
''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...''
Ivan F. Vasiliev's name is spelt "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 "Vasiliev".
Vasilief Bank close to
Sitka
russian: Ситка
, native_name_lang = tli
, settlement_type = Consolidated city-borough
, image_skyline = File:Sitka 84 Elev 135.jpg
, image_caption = Downtown Sitka in 1984
, image_size ...
and
Vasilief Rock in
Kodiak Island were named after him.
There are other geographic features in the coast of Alaska and the
Aleutians bearing the name "Vasilief", but it is not clear after which Vasiliev they were named.
References
External links
The Naming of Alaska
1776 births
1812 deaths
Imperial Russian Navy personnel
Russian America
Explorers from the Russian Empire
Explorers of Asia
Navigators from the Russian Empire
Russian explorers of North America
Explorers of Alaska
{{Explorer-stub