The ten hours Georg Wilhelm Steller spent exploring Kayak Island in July 1741 provided the first European biological account of North American wildlife. As a physician and naturalist for the Russian Academy of Sciences, he navigated the risks of the Great Northern Expedition to document species that were entirely unknown to the western scientific community.
Academic Background and Russian Service
Born in 1709 in Bad Windsheim, Steller studied at the University of Wittenberg before relocating to Russia. He joined the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1737, serving as a physician and naturalist. His early professional life was shaped by his acquisition of field notes from his predecessor, Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt, which provided foundational knowledge for his subsequent work in the Siberian wilderness.
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In 1738, Steller departed Saint Petersburg to join Vitus Bering’s massive expedition. By 1740, he reached the Kamchatka Peninsula. Serving as the primary scientist on the St. Peter, he utilized his understanding of currents and migratory patterns to guide the ship toward Alaska. During the voyage, he provided essential medical care to a crew ravaged by scurvy, though his attempts to treat the illness with local plants were frequently dismissed by commanding officers.
Scientific Cataloging and Legacy
Steller identified numerous species, including the Steller’s jay, the Steller’s sea eagle, and the now-extinct Steller’s sea cow. His work on the sea cow remains the only detailed anatomical and behavioral record of the animal before it succumbed to overhunting. Although his career was cut short by a fever in Tyumen in 1746, his journals were instrumental for subsequent explorers like Captain Cook.
Fast facts
- Born: 1709, Bad Windsheim
- Died: 1746, Tyumen
- Education: University of Wittenberg
- Employer: Russian Academy of Sciences (1737-1746)
- Primary Expedition: Great Northern Expedition (1733-1743)
- Citizenship: Holy Roman Empire and Russian Empire
Questions readers ask
What significant animals did Steller identify?
He is credited with documenting the Steller’s sea cow, Steller’s sea eagle, Steller sea lion, Steller’s eider, and Steller’s jay.
How did Steller die?
After being recalled to Saint Petersburg to face false accusations regarding the release of prisoners, he died of a fever in Tyumen in 1746.
Achievements
- Held posts at Russian Academy of Sciences
- Educated at University of Wittenberg
- Fields of research: botany, ethnography, geography and zoology
