Adolf Etolin
Encyclopedia
Adolf Karlovich Etolin, lso Arvid Adolf Etholén, Russian: Адольф Карлович Этолин (January 9, 1799 - March 29, 1876) was a naval officer, explorer
and administrator who was employed by the Russian-American Company
. He was a Swedish-speaking Finn who was born in Helsinki
, Finland
. Etholén first reached Sitka in the service of the Russian-American Company
in 1818, rising to Chief Manager of the Company 1840-1845 (Chief Manager was a position sometimes referred to, though incorrectly, as Governor
).
to America
with Vasily Golovnin
on the Kamchatka
in 1817, and he is mentioned in Kiril Timofeevich Khlĕbnikov's Baranov, Chief Manager of the Russian Colonies in America (1835), with the following comment on Baranov’s part: “If only the Main Office could have sent me men like yourselves earlier, then I would very likely have had more success, and I would have found it pleasant to pass the time in their company!”.
Etolin served from 1818 to 1825 as a ship master. He was part of a group that surveyed the Bering Sea
in 1822 to 1824. He was the adjutant for the governor of Russian America in 1834, and became governor ("Chief Manager") of Russian America from 1840 to 1845. He was a member of the board of the Russian-American Company in Saint Petersburg
, Russia from 1847 to 1859. Etolin died in Elimäki
, Finland.
was named after Etolin by the United States in the wake of the Alaska Purchase
of 1867 (it was formerly the Duke of York's Island). There is also Etolin Strait
, as well as a cape, a point and a mountain.
The Etholén collection (Etholén Alaskassa) in the National Museum of Finland contains a number of Alaskan ethnographic items.
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
and administrator who was employed by the Russian-American Company
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
. He was a Swedish-speaking Finn who was born in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Etholén first reached Sitka in the service of the Russian-American Company
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
in 1818, rising to Chief Manager of the Company 1840-1845 (Chief Manager was a position sometimes referred to, though incorrectly, as Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
).
Career
Etolin traveled from RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Vasily Golovnin
Vasily Golovnin
Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin .-Early life and career:Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin was born in April 1776, in the village of Gulyniki in Ryazan Oblast, on his father's country estate. Both his father and grandfather had served in the Russian military as officers in the elite Preobrazhensky...
on the Kamchatka
Russian frigate Kamchatka
At least two frigates of the Imperial Russian Navy have been named Kamchatka* Russian sloop-of-war Kamchatka circumnavigated the globe between 1817 and 1819 under Captain Vasily Golovnin....
in 1817, and he is mentioned in Kiril Timofeevich Khlĕbnikov's Baranov, Chief Manager of the Russian Colonies in America (1835), with the following comment on Baranov’s part: “If only the Main Office could have sent me men like yourselves earlier, then I would very likely have had more success, and I would have found it pleasant to pass the time in their company!”.
Etolin served from 1818 to 1825 as a ship master. He was part of a group that surveyed the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
in 1822 to 1824. He was the adjutant for the governor of Russian America in 1834, and became governor ("Chief Manager") of Russian America from 1840 to 1845. He was a member of the board of the Russian-American Company in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia from 1847 to 1859. Etolin died in Elimäki
Elimäki
Elimäki is a former municipality of Finland.It was located in the province of Southern Finland and was part of the Kymenlaakso region. The municipality had a population of 8,199 and covered an area of 391.74 km² of which 4.27 km² was water...
, Finland.
Legacy
The name Etolin, based on the Russian version of Etholén's name, Adolf Karlovich Etolin can be found in several places on the map of Alaska. Etolin IslandEtolin Island
Etolin Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska, USA, at . It is between Prince of Wales Island, to its west, and the Alaska mainland, to its east. It is southwest of Wrangell Island. It was first charted in 1793 by James Johnstone, one of George Vancouver's...
was named after Etolin by the United States in the wake of the Alaska Purchase
Alaska purchase
The Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
of 1867 (it was formerly the Duke of York's Island). There is also Etolin Strait
Etolin Strait
Etolin Strait is a strait in the western region of the U.S. state of Alaska, at about . It is between Nunivak Island to its west and Nelson Island and the Alaska mainland to its east...
, as well as a cape, a point and a mountain.
The Etholén collection (Etholén Alaskassa) in the National Museum of Finland contains a number of Alaskan ethnographic items.