Alexander Andreyevich Baranov

Alexander Andreyevich Baranov (Russian: Александр Андреевич Баранов; * 1746 in Kargopol, government Olonets, † November 1819 at sea in the Sunda Strait on the way home to Russia ) was from 1790 one of two area managers of Schelikow - Golikov Fur Company in Alaska. From 1799 he served as chief administrator of this year founded Russian - American Company the areas of Russian America and the Kuril Islands.

Life

Baranov left home at age 15. He became a successful merchant in Irkutsk ( Siberia). The growing fur trade lured him into what was then Russian America, today's Alaska, where he founded a trading post in the region of Kodiak Island and managed.

In 1799 he was, by the action of Nikolai Resanov, head of the influential Russian - American Company. In this post he held until 1818, he led all the interests of the company of Alaska, including the Aleutian and Kuril islands of the. The shops in this region increased due to increasing trade in sea otter and seal furs. Baranov convinced local hunters to extend their reach to the shores of California. Also promoted Baranov educational opportunities of the natives; Under his leadership, schools have been established and the border settlements were more involved.

During Baranov's line worked Russian Orthodox missionaries in Russian America. Many of them accused the Russian fur traders of cruelty and exploitation against the indigenous people. Baranov had a strained relationship with the missionaries who often helped the locals secretly.

After his replacement by Hagemeister, 1818 Baranov embarked in 1819 for returning to Russia, but fell seriously ill during the voyage and died after a stay in Batavia ( now Jakarta ) in the same year in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. He received a burial at sea.

During World War II the United States named a ship after him.