Baptized in the Lutheran church of Horsens on 5 August 1681, Vitus Bering spent his life navigating the expansionist ambitions of the Russian Empire. Though born a Danish subject, he built a career as a naval officer and explorer, eventually commanding large-scale expeditions to determine the geographic relationship between the Asian and North American continents.
Early Seafaring and Naval Integration
Bering began his maritime training at age 15, logging experience in the East Indies and the North Atlantic. In 1704, he entered the service of Tsar Peter I. Under the mentorship of Admiral Cornelius Cruys, he moved through the ranks of the Russian Navy, reaching second captain by 1720. His service during the Great Northern War focused on logistical maneuvers and vessel transport rather than direct combat.
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He married Anna Christina Pülse in Vyborg on 8 October 1713. The couple had nine children, though only four reached adulthood. Frustrated by a lack of promotion following the war in 1721, Bering briefly retired to Vyborg to maintain social standing among his wife's relatives. He rejoined the navy in 1724, regaining his rank and eventually securing command of the 90-gun Lesnoe.
The First Kamchatka Expedition
Tsar Peter I commissioned the First Kamchatka Expedition on 9 January 1725. Bering was tasked with traveling from St. Petersburg to Okhotsk, then to the Kamchatka Peninsula to build ships. His objective was to sail north to verify if a sea passage existed between Asia and America. Aided by lieutenants Martin Spanberg and Aleksei Chirikov, he utilized land and river routes to move his party across Siberia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1681, Horsens, Denmark
- Died: 1741, Bering Island
- Naval Rank: Commander-captain
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark; Russian Empire
- Spouse: Anna Christina Pülse
- Expeditions: First Kamchatka Expedition; Great Northern Expedition
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the First Kamchatka Expedition?
The expedition was ordered to sail north from the Kamchatka Peninsula to determine if a sea border existed between Asia and North America.
Where did Vitus Bering die?
Bering died on the landmass now known as Bering Island in 1741.
Achievements
- Worked as explorer, hydrographer and naval officer
