Gerasim Izmailov facts for kids
Gerasim Grigoryevich Izmaylov (born around 1745 – died after 1795) was an important Russian explorer and sailor. He played a big part in Russia setting up colonies in Alaska, which was then called Russian America. He was also the first to create detailed maps of the Aleutian Islands.
Izmaylov was born in Yakutsk, a city in Russia. He went to a special school for sailors in Okhotsk with his friend, Dmitry Bocharov. They stayed friends and business partners for life. In 1771, they were caught up in a rebellion led by Maurice Benyovszky in Kamchatka. Izmaylov tried to escape the rebels. But he was punished and left alone on Simushir Island, which is one of the empty Kuril Islands. For a whole year, he survived by eating "scallops, grass, and roots." Later, people who collected furs and taxes rescued him. He was questioned because of his connection to the rebellion. But in 1774, he was found innocent of any wrongdoing.
Mapping the Aleutian Islands
In 1775, Izmaylov became the captain of a boat named St. Paul. His job was to map the coasts of the Aleutian Islands. These islands are a chain of small islands stretching from Alaska.
In October 1778, while visiting Unalaska Island, Izmaylov met the famous Captain James Cook. Captain Cook gave Izmaylov a special tool called an octant, which helps sailors find their position. In return, Izmaylov gave Cook a letter to the authorities in Kamchatka. Cook also gave Izmaylov a new map of the western coast of North America. This map was meant to be given to the British Navy by the Russians.
Founding Russian Settlements
Between 1783 and 1785, Izmaylov and Grigory Shelikhov made a historic journey from Okhotsk to Kodiak Island. There, they started the very first Russian settlement in America. This was a big step for Russia's presence in the New World.
In 1789, Izmaylov was the first person to explore and map the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Three years later, he started working for Alexander Baranov, another important Russian figure in Alaska. Izmaylov helped Baranov defend against a sea attack by the Tlingit people.
Later Journeys
After spending a winter in Unalaska, Izmaylov visited Saint Paul Island, Alaska. There, he found the crew of a Russian ship that had been missing since 1791. He brought them safely back to Okhotsk in June 1794.
The last time Izmaylov is mentioned is in 1795. He traveled to Alaska with a group of Orthodox missionaries, led by Father Joasaph. Gerasim Izmaylov was a brave navigator and explorer who helped shape the early history of Russian America.
