Willem BarentsWillem Barents (1550? -- 1597, Dutch name
Barentsz) was a Dutch navigator and explorer, leader of early
expeditions in far northern waters. In 1594 he left Amsterdam
with two ships to search for the Northeast passage to eastern
Asia. He reached the west coast of Novaya Zemlya, and followed
it northward, being finally forced to turn back when near its
northern extremity. In the following year he commanded another
expedition. of seven ships, which made for the strait between
the Asiatic coast and Vaygach Island, but was too late to find
open. water. His third journey also failed and resulted in his
death. On this occasion he had two ships, and on the outward
journey sighted Bear Island and Svalbard (also known as
Spitsbergen), where the ships separated. Barents? vessel, after
rounding the north of Novaya Zemlya, was trapped in the ice and
he was compelled to winter in the north. Since his ship was not
released early in 1597, his party left her in two open boats on
June 13, 1597 and most of its mem