When Russia was in America; the Alaska boundary treaty negotiations, 1824-25, and the role of Pierre de Poletica

by Huculak, Mykhaylo

For 126 years, from first exploration in 1741 to cession in 1867, Russia was an American power. She owned by discovery and settlement what is today the State of Alaska and claimed coastal rights as far south as California. British Columbia's coast lay within this zone.

149 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One sunny October afternoon, while strolling around downtown Victoria (British Columbia), I stumbled upon a plaque that read, in English, French and Ukrainian (!), that it was installed "In commemoration of the Treaty between Great Britain and the Russian Empire [of] 28 February 1825 demarcating Canada's western boundary". Petro Poletica, the then-Ukrainian Plenipotentiary to the United States, was listed as a co-signatory of the Treaty for the Russian Empire.
Surprised to see something written in Ukrainian so far away from home, and eager to learn more, I found this book, published in Vancouver in 1971. It paints a colorful picture of political, economic and military rivalry between England, the US, Russia and Spain for territory and leadership in Northern America, culminating with the Ukase of 1821 and subsequent tripartite Alaska boundary negotiations of 1824-1825 that shaped political geography of the region for decades, if not centuries. It is definitely worth reading if you are a history geek or a person interested in peaceful resolution of territorial disputes.

[Marc Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read, of I think a not often talked about (written about) portion of history, concerning the exploration of, and claims to the American continental territories of the Pacific Northwest, by the various competing world powers of the time. Interesting insights into the strategies of the powers involved, and what they hoped to gain from it all. There were also fascinating portraits of the many diplomats involved, to include John Quincy Adams. There are a lots of little anecdotes gathered along the way, that I'm sure most people have never heard about before in history classes at school, or through their own personal study. At least, that was the case for me, and therefore made it a worthwhile book to spend time reading.

[Dirk Roundy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In January 1842 the Russians sold Fort Ross (on Bodega Bay, CA) to Johann A. Sutter. Fort Ross had not become the hoped for granary for the rest of its NorthWest Coast holdings.