Boris Andreyevich Vilkitsky (Russian:Бори́с Андре́евич Вильки́цкий) (22 March (3 AprilN.S.) 1885, Pulkovo – 6 March 1961) was a Russianhydrographer andsurveyor. He was the son ofAndrey Ippolitovich Vilkitsky.
Born in Pulkovo,Tsarskoselsky Uyezd (now part ofSaint Petersburg), Vilkitsky graduated from theNaval Academy inSaint Petersburg in 1908. He participated in theRusso-Japanese War of 1904–1905. In 1913—1915 he led theArctic hydrographic expedition on the ships"Taimyr" and"Vaigach" with the purpose of further exploration of theNorthern Sea Route.
In 1913, Vilkitsky's expedition discoveredEmperor Nicholas II Land (Russian:Земля Императора Николая II,Zemlya Imperatora Nikolaya II) —later renamed 'Severnaya Zemlya', perhaps one of the most important Russian discoveries in the Arctic at the time.[1] Other discoveries were an island that now bears his name (Vilkitsky Island), as well as the islands ofMaly Taymyr and neighboringStarokadomsky. In 1914–1915, Vilkitsky's expedition made the first through voyage fromVladivostok toArkhangelsk, discovered Novopashenniy Island (nowZhokhov Island), and described the eastern coastline of the territory he named 'Emperor Nicholas II Land'. He was awarded the prestigiousConstantine Medal by theRussian Geographical Society for his endeavours.[2]
In 1918, Vilkitsky was appointed head of the firstSoviet hydrographic expedition, which never took place due to its seizure by theNorth Russia intervention in Arkhangelsk. In 1920, Vilkitskyemigrated toBritain. In 1923 and 1924, Vilkitsky ledcommercial expeditions in theKara Sea at the invitation of the Soviet foreign trade organizations.
Later in his life, Vilkitsky was employed as a hydrographer in theBelgian Congo.Boris Vilkitsky died inBrussels in 1961.
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Many geographical features in Russia bear Vilkitsky's name:
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