BEHRING

Virus, captain in the Ku ian navy, was bom at Horsens, in Jutland. Being a skilfid seaman, he was employed by Peter the Great in the sides navy established at Cronstadt His talents and the height undaunted courage displayed by him in the naval of wars against the Swedes, procured him the honour of being chosen to command a voyage of discovery in the Sea of Kamtschatka. He set out from St. Petenbnrg, Feb. 6, 1725, for Siberia. In the year 1728 he examined the northern coasts of K^tscihatka as far as lat 67" 18' v., and proved that Asia is not united to America. It remained, however, to be determined whether the hmd opposite to Kamtschatka was in reality the coast of the American continent, or merely ishmds lying between Asia and America. Jane 4, 1741, he sailed, with two ships, from Ochotak, and toadied the K.w. coast of America, between lat. 35° and 69"" K. Tempests and sickne prevented him from pursaing his discoveries he was cast on a desolate island, covered with snow and ice, where he grew dangeroaaly sick, and died, Dec. 8, 1741. 132