First Circumnavigation of Antarctica: Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1819–1821)

Russian Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (often anglicized as Ferdinand von Bellingshausen) led the first expedition to circumnavigate Antarctica, 1819–1821. His ships Vostok and Mirny charted the continental coast, proving Antarctica was a continent, not just islands. The voyage laid foundations for future Antarctic exploration.