Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb von

Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb von

(fäb`ēən gôt`lēp fôn bĕl`ĭngzhou'zən), 1778–1852, Russian explorer, b. Sarema, Estonia. A graduate of the naval academy at Kronstadt, he commanded two ships on an extended voyage (1819–21) during which he circumnavigated Antarctica and named the Alexander I, Peter I, and Traversay islands. Before returning to Kronstadt, he explored Fiji and the Society Islands.