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Nikifor Alekseevich Begichev (Bigichev) (Russian:Никифор Алексеевич Бегичев (Бигичев); February 7 (N.S. February 19), 1874 – May 18, 1927) was aSoviet seaman and polar explorer. He was twice awarded gold medals by theRussian Academy of Sciences
Begichev was born inTsariov,Astrakhan Governorate, to a family ofVolga River fishers. In 1895, he was called up to the service in theRussian Navy and traveled three times as a sailor and a boatswain to theAntilles islands.
He was a participant in BaronEduard Toll's 1900–1903 "Russian Polar Expedition" as the bosun of shipZarya. After the death of Baron Toll, Begichev took part in the research. During this voyage, he saved the life of his commander - lieutenantAleksandr Kolchak, a future admiral. Walking by the sea ice, Kolchak fell in the split. When Begichev pulled him from the water, the lieutenant showed no signs of life. Begichev took off his dry clothes and dressed Kolchak with them. Then, to re-animate him, Begichev fired his pipe and put it in Kolchak's mouth. Kolchak opened his eyes.
Later, Begichev took part in theRusso-Japanese War.
In 1922, at the request of the government ofNorway, Begichev led an unsuccessful Soviet expedition to search forPeter Tessem and Paul Knutsen, lost crew members of the shipMaud fromRoald Amundsen's 1918 expedition.[1] Begichev was one of the researchers exploring theTaymyr Peninsula withNikolay Urvantsev in 1923–1924. During his explorations, he surveyed two islands, which have been called after him:Bolshoy Begichev Island andMaliy Begichev Island.
Nikifor Begichev died during wintering at the mouth of thePyasina River. In 1964, a monument to Begichev was erected in the settlement ofDikson.
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