stefansson-wrangel-09-38-003-002

Wrangel Island was discovered on August 6th, 1849 by Captain Henry
Kellett, R. N., of H.M.S. Herald, but he did not attempt to land on it.

The first known persons of any nationality to set foot on Wrangel
Island were members of the crews of several American whalers, including
Captains Thomas and Williams, who visited Wrangel Island (then known as
Kellett's Land) during the season 1867. We have no definite information of further
landings on Wrangel Island until August 12, 1881, when Captain Calvin L.
Hooper, of the U.S.S. Corwin, landed and took formal possession of it for the
United States. He was followed a few days later by Lieutenant R. M. Berry,
of the U.S.S. Rodgers, who stayed for nineteen days, exploring and
mapping the island.