Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
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Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, lithograph by U. Schzeibach (У. Шзейбах), circa 1835
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| Born | 20 September [O.S. 9 September] 1778 Lahhentagge Manor, Lahhentagge, Kreis Ösel, Riga Governorate, Russian Empire (in present-day Lahetaguse, Saare County, Estonia) |
| Died | 25 January [O.S. 13 January] 1852 (aged 73) Kronstadt, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire |
| Service/ |
 Imperial Russian Navy |
| Years of service | 1795–1852 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829) |
| Awards | Order of Saint George Order of Saint Vladimir |
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (born September 20, 1778 – died January 25, 1852) was a brave Russian naval officer and explorer. He became a famous Admiral. He is best known for leading an expedition that discovered the continent of Antarctica.
Bellingshausen was born on Osel Island, which is now part of Estonia. He joined the Russian Navy when he was very young. He sailed around the world twice during his career. His first big trip was from 1803 to 1806. He served on the ship Nadezhda.
Later, he led his own important expedition to explore the Southern Ocean. On this journey, he and his crew became the first people to see the land of Antarctica. This proved that a southern continent existed, which many explorers had doubted. Bellingshausen is remembered as one of Russia's greatest admirals and explorers. Many places in Antarctica are named after him.
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Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was born into a noble family. This was in the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire. Today, this area is Saare County, Estonia. His family came from a region called Holstein.
He joined the Imperial Russian Navy when he was just ten years old. After finishing naval academy at age eighteen, he quickly became a captain.
First Trip Around the World
Bellingshausen admired the voyages of James Cook. From 1803 to 1806, he took part in Russia's first trip around the world. He was an officer on the ship Nadezhda, which means "Hope." The ship was commanded by Adam Johann von Krusenstern.
After this long journey, Bellingshausen created many maps. These maps showed new areas and islands in the Pacific Ocean that they had explored.
Serving as a Ship Captain
Bellingshausen continued his naval career. He commanded different ships in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea. From 1812 to 1816, he commanded a frigate. From 1817 to 1819, he commanded another frigate. Both of these ships were part of the Black Sea Fleet.
First Russian Expedition to Antarctica
In 1819, Emperor Alexander I approved a new expedition. It was to explore the south polar region. Bellingshausen was chosen to lead it. He was an experienced captain and a skilled mapmaker. The goal was to explore the Southern Ocean and find land near the South Pole.
Two ships were prepared for the journey. The main ship was the Vostok ("East"). The support ship was the Mirny ("Peaceful"). Mikhail Lazarev helped prepare the ships. He became Bellingshausen's second-in-command and captain of Mirny. Bellingshausen commanded Vostok.
The expedition left Kronstadt on June 4, 1819. They stopped in England, where Bellingshausen met Joseph Banks. Banks had sailed with Captain Cook. He gave the Russians books and maps for their journey.
Discovering the Antarctic Mainland
The expedition left Portsmouth on September 5, 1819. They crossed the Antarctic Circle on January 26, 1820. This was the first time anyone had done this since James Cook. On January 27, 1820, the expedition discovered the Antarctic mainland. They saw ice fields near the coast.
Historians have studied Bellingshausen's diaries and reports. They compared them with other explorers' records. It is now believed that Bellingshausen was the first to discover Antarctica. This happened before Edward Bransfield or Nathaniel Palmer saw the land.
During their voyage, Bellingshausen also visited Ship Cove in New Zealand. They explored the South Shetland Islands. They also discovered and named several islands. These included Peter I Island, Zavodovski, Leskov, and Visokoi Island. He also named a part of the Antarctic mainland the Alexander Coast. This area is now known as Alexander Island.
Bellingshausen and Lazarev sailed around the continent twice. They always stayed in sight of each other. This proved that Captain Cook was wrong. Cook had said it was impossible to find land in the southern ice fields. The expedition also made new discoveries in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Becoming an Admiral
Bellingshausen returned to Kronstadt on August 4, 1821. He was promoted to counter admiral. He later fought in the Russo-Turkish War from 1828 to 1829. In 1830, he became a vice admiral. In 1831, he published a book about his Antarctic travels. Its title was Double Investigation of the Southern Polar Ocean and the Voyage Around the World.
Military Governor of Kronstadt
From 1839, Bellingshausen served as the military governor of Kronstadt. This was an important naval base near St Petersburg. He died there in 1852.
Bellingshausen's Legacy
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen is remembered as one of Russia's greatest admirals and explorers. Many places in the Antarctic are named in his honor. These names remind us of his important role in exploring the southern polar region.
Monuments to Bellingshausen
There is a memorial stone for Bellingshausen in Lahhentagge manor in Saaremaa, Estonia. There is also a monument to him in Nikolayev, Ukraine. Another monument to Admiral Bellingshausen stands in Kronstadt, Russia.
Places Named After Him
- Bellingshausen Island in the South Atlantic Ocean
- Bellingshausen Sea in the Southern Ocean
- Bellingshausen Station, a Russian base in Antarctica
- Bellingshausen Plate, an ancient tectonic plate
- Bellinsgauzen, a crater on the far side of the Moon
- Faddey Islands in the Laptev Sea, named after his Russian first name
- Motu One (Society Islands), also known as Bellinghausen, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean
- 3659 Bellingshausen, a minor planet discovered in 1969
See also
In Spanish: Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen para niños
