Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb von (fäb'ēun gôt'lēp fôn bel'ingzhou"zun) [key], 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.
