Demid Ilyich Kulikalov
Encyclopedia
Demid Ilyich Kulikalov was an administrator of Russian America during the first decade of the 19th century. He served in the Russian-American Company
for several decades, led early expeditions into what is now Alaska
, administered RAC interests in the Pribilof Islands
, and headed the Russian-American Company's Atka
station.
Kulikalov's origins with the Russian-American Company are unclear. In 1794, he was the co-leader of the first Russian expedition from Kodiak Island
to explore Yakutat Bay
, a hunting expedition that covered much of the southern coast of Alaska and included more than 1,000 natives and Russians.
In 1805, Kulikalov ordered to head the RAC's organization in the Andreanof Islands
. Before he departed the RAC's base of operations in Unalaska, however, he was flogged on the orders of Nikolai Rezanov
for alleged cruelty to an Aleut
woman and her child and was expelled from Russian America in chains. Kuliakalov was a trusted assistant to Russian America governor Alexander Baranov, and either returned to the colony or was never transported out (sources are unclear). Kuliakalov was put in charge of establishing a colony on St. Matthew Island
in 1809 and returned to Unalaska in 1810. That year, Kulikalov unsuccessfully sought to have an illegitimate child (born through a partnership with an Aleut woman) sent to Russia for education. The reason given was that Kulikalov "had legitimate children in Irkutsk
." Ten years later, Baranov's intervention secured son a trip to St. Petersburg, and he later returned to Russian America.
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)...
for several decades, led early expeditions into what is now Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, administered RAC interests in the Pribilof Islands
Pribilof Islands
The Pribilof Islands are a group of four volcanic islands off the coast of mainland Alaska, in the Bering Sea, about north of Unalaska and 200 miles southwest of Cape Newenham. The Siberia coast is roughly northwest...
, and headed the Russian-American Company's Atka
Atka
Atka may refer to:*Atka, Alaska, a city in the United States*Atka, Russia, an urban-type settlement in Magadan Oblast, Russia*Atka Island, an island in the Andreanof Islands*Atka Iceport, an iceport in West Antarctica...
station.
Kulikalov's origins with the Russian-American Company are unclear. In 1794, he was the co-leader of the first Russian expedition from Kodiak Island
Kodiak Island
Kodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, Kodiak Island is the second largest island in the United States and the 80th largest island in the world, with an...
to explore Yakutat Bay
Yakutat Bay
Yakutat Bay is a 29-km-wide bay in the U.S. state of Alaska, extending southwest from Disenchantment Bay to the Gulf of Alaska. "Yakutat" is a Tlingit name reported as "Jacootat" and "Yacootat" by Yuri Lisianski in 1805....
, a hunting expedition that covered much of the southern coast of Alaska and included more than 1,000 natives and Russians.
In 1805, Kulikalov ordered to head the RAC's organization in the Andreanof Islands
Andreanof Islands
The Andreanof Islands are a group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. They are located between Amchitka Pass and the Rat Islands group to the west, and Amukta Pass and the Islands of Four Mountains group to the east, at about 52° North and 172°57' to 179°09' West. The islands...
. Before he departed the RAC's base of operations in Unalaska, however, he was flogged on the orders of Nikolai Rezanov
Nikolai Rezanov
Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov was a Russian nobleman and statesman who promoted the project of Russian colonization of Alaska and California. One of the ten barons of Russia, he was the first Russian ambassador to Japan , and participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe ,...
for alleged cruelty to an Aleut
Aleut
Aleut people are the indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, United States and Kamchatka Krai, Russia.-Name:The name "Aleut" comes from the Aleut word allíthuh, meaning "community." A regional self-denomination is ', Unangan or Unanga, meaning "original people." The name Aleut was...
woman and her child and was expelled from Russian America in chains. Kuliakalov was a trusted assistant to Russian America governor Alexander Baranov, and either returned to the colony or was never transported out (sources are unclear). Kuliakalov was put in charge of establishing a colony on St. Matthew Island
St. Matthew Island
St. Matthew Island is a remote island in the Bering Sea in Alaska, WNW of Nunivak Island. The island has a land area of , making it the 43rd largest island in the United States. Its most southerly point is Cape Upright which features cliff faces which exceed...
in 1809 and returned to Unalaska in 1810. That year, Kulikalov unsuccessfully sought to have an illegitimate child (born through a partnership with an Aleut woman) sent to Russia for education. The reason given was that Kulikalov "had legitimate children in Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: .-History:In 1652, Ivan Pokhabov built a zimovye near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur taxes from the Buryats. In 1661, Yakov Pokhabov...
." Ten years later, Baranov's intervention secured son a trip to St. Petersburg, and he later returned to Russian America.
Reference
- Black, Lydia T. Russians in Alaska: 1732-1867. University of Alaska Press, 2004. ISBN 1-889963-04-6
- Black, Lydia T.; Dauenhauer, Nora; and Dauenhauer, Richard. Russians in Tlingit America. University of Washington Press, 2008. ISBN 9780295986012.
- Emmons, George Thornton and De Laguna, Frederica. The Tlingit Indians. University of Washington Press, 1991. ISBN 9780295970080.