Khariton Laptev

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Khariton Prokofievich Laptev (Лаптев, Харитон Прокофьевич in Russian)(unknown — died in 1763), Russian Arctic explorer, naval officer.

Laptev started his career in the navy as a cadet in 1718. In 1739-1742, he led one of the parties of the Second Kamchatka expedition. Together with Semion Chelyuskin, N. Chekin, and G. Medvedev, Laptev described the Taimyr Peninsula from the mouth of the Khatanga River to the mouth of the Pyasina river and discovered a few of the islands in the area. After the expedition, he continued his military service in the Baltic Fleet. The sea coastline of the Taimyr Peninsula, a cape on the Chelyuskin Peninsula and other landmarks bear his name. The Laptev Sea was also named after him (and Dmitry Laptev).