The Arctic hydrographic expedition led by Boris Vilkitsky between 1913 and 1915 resulted in the mapping of significant landmasses and the first successful transit from Vladivostok to Arkhangelsk. This venture significantly expanded the reach of the Northern Sea Route, securing a place for this Russian naval officer within the annals of twentieth-century polar exploration.
Early Military and Naval Career
Born in 1885 in Pulkovo, Boris Andreyevich Vilkitsky was the son of Andrey Ippolitovich Vilkitsky. He received his formal training at the Naval Cadet Corps and subsequently graduated from the Naval Academy in Saint Petersburg in 1908. His early service record included active duty during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, a period that preceded his transition into specialized hydrographic and cartographic work for the Russian Empire.
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In 1913, Vilkitsky took command of the ships Taimyr and Vaigach for a multi-year expedition focused on the Northern Sea Route. During this mission, he identified Emperor Nicholas II Land, later renamed Severnaya Zemlya, alongside Maly Taymyr and Starokadomsky islands. In the following two years, he navigated the passage between Vladivostok and Arkhangelsk, adding the discovery of Novopashenniy Island, known today as Zhokhov Island, to his record. The Russian Geographical Society recognized these contributions by awarding him the Constantine Medal.
Post-Imperial Activity and Later Life
Following the 1918 disruption of a planned Soviet hydrographic expedition due to the North Russia intervention, Vilkitsky moved to Britain in 1920. Despite his emigration, he returned to lead commercial ventures in the Kara Sea in 1923 and 1924 under contract with Soviet trade entities. Later years were spent in the Belgian Congo, where he utilized his technical expertise as a hydrographer. He died in 1961 within the Brussels metropolitan area and is buried at the Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1885, Pulkovo
- Died: 1961, Brussels metropolitan area
- Military Rank: Admiral
- Key Award: Vega Medal (1926)
- Significant Discovery: Severnaya Zemlya
- Notable Expedition Years: 1913–1915
- Burial Site: Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What major geographical features are named after Boris Vilkitsky?
His name is applied to the Vilkitsky Strait, several islands across the Kara and Eastern Siberian seas, and a bay on Novaya Zemlya.
Which decorations did he receive during his service?
He was awarded the Vega Medal, the Gold Sword for Bravery, and various classes of the Orders of Saint Anna and Saint Stanislaus.
Achievements
- Vega Medal
- Order of Saint Anna, 2nd class
- Order of Saint Anna, 3rd class
- Order of Saint Anna, 4th class
- Recorded as cartographer, polar explorer and military officer
