Khariton Laptev

Chariton Laptev Prokofjewitsch (Russian Харитон Прокофьевич Лаптев; * 1700 near Welikije Luki, † December 21, 1763 ) was a Russian naval officer and Arctic explorer.

1718 Laptev joined as a cadet in the Russian Navy. 1733 he took part in the Second Kamchatka. Laptev was a member of the northern group under Vasily Prontschischtschew and led them after Prontschischtschews death in 1736. Together with Semyon Tscheljuskin he described the Taimyr peninsula from the mouth to the mouth of the Chatanga Pjassina. Laptev also discovered some islands. After the expedition Laptev returned to the Navy and served in the Baltic Fleet.

After Laptev part of the coast of the Taymyr Peninsula, a cape on the Tscheljuskin Peninsula and the Laptev Sea is named. The latter recalls the same time to his cousin Dmitry Laptev, also a polar explorer.