Russian Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering and Alexey Chirikov marked the beginning of the development of Alaska, which until 1867 was called Russian America, in 2021 marks 280 years since the time when the Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering and Alexey Chirikov initiated the development of Alaska. This book presents six biographical essays about those who left a significant mark on the history of this region: "Ross Columbus" by Grigory Shelikhov, the first ruler of the Russian colonies Alexander Baranov, the founder of the settlement of Ross in California Ivan Kuskov, the author of the project of annexation of California to Russia Dmitry Zavalishin, "apostle of Alaska and Siberia" St. Innocent (Veniaminov), explorer and traveler Lavrenty Zagoskin. Various reasons and circumstances brought them to the ends of the world, but all of them can be safely called ascetics and creators of Russian America.