Ferdinand Wrangel 1820-24
The Northeast Passage 3
Wrangel, later chief administrator of Russian-America, was one of many who, in the years after Bering, were exploring the polar coastal region of Siberia. By his expeditions with the sledge, he ensured the accurate recording of the previously fragmented coastline. He showed conclusively that there was no land bridge to America. The real purpose of finding the mysterious Andreev-country he could not reach and kept it for non-existent. When the Island was finally found by other researchers as a result of the search for Franklin it nevertheless was named after him.