Vitus Jonassen Bering

Bering, Vitus Jonassen

Vitus Jonassen Bering, explorer (b at Horsens, Denmark 1681; d on Bering Island 8 Dec 1741). An officer in the Russian navy, Bering was appointed in 1725 by Peter the Great to explore the Siberian coast. After 3 years' delay, Bering sailed from Okhotsk and passed through Bering Str, proving that Asia and America were not joined. On a subsequent expedition in 1741 he sailed from Siberia eastward into the Gulf of Alaska and was the first navigator to sight mainland Alaska. On the return voyage his ship was delayed by storms and had to put in at Bering I, where he died of scurvy.