Richard Chancellor

English seaman, chosen in 1553 as ‘pilot-general’ of Sir Hugh Willoughby's expedition in search of a Northeast Passage to India. The ships were parted in a storm, and Chancellor proceeded alone into the White Sea, travelling overland to Moscow, where he concluded a treaty giving freedom of trade to English ships. In 1555 he made a second voyage to Moscow, aboard the Edward Bonaventure, but was shipwrecked on the return journey in Pitsligo Bay, off the coast of Aberdeenshire, NE Scotland.

Chancellor, a native of Bristol, acquired geographical and maritime proficiency from the explorer Sebastian Cabot and the geographer John Dee.

Sir Hugh Willoughby was given three ships for the search, and Chancellor went as second-in-command. Chancellor, with the ship Edward Bonaventure, found the entrance to the White Sea and anchored at the port of Archangel.

When Tsar Ivan the Terrible heard of Chancellor's arrival, he immediately invited the exotic guest to visit Moscow for an audience at the royal court. Chancellor made the journey of over 600 miles (over 1000 kilometres) to Moscow through snow and ice covered country. However, the palace of the tsar was very luxurious, as were the dinners he offered Chancellor. The Russian tsar was pleased to open the sea trading routes with England and other countries, as Russia did not yet have a connection with the Baltic Sea at the time and the entire area was contested by the neighbouring powers of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Swedish Empire. Chancellor was no less optimistic, finding a good market for his English wool, and receiving furs and other Russian goods in return. The Tsar gave him letters for England inviting British traders and promising trade privileges.

When Chancellor returned to England in the summer of 1554, King Edward was dead, and his successor, Mary, had executed Northumberland for attempting to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne. No stigma attached to Chancellor, and the Muscovy Company, as the association was now called, sent him again to the White Sea in 1555. Chancellor spent the summer of 1555 dealing with the Tsar, organizing trade, and trying to learn how China might be reached by the northern route.

In 1556 Chancellor departed for England, taking with him the first Russian ambassador to his country, Osep Nepeja. The Bona Esperanza sank, the Bona Confidentia appeared to enter the fjord but was never heard of again, and the Phillip and Mary successfully wintered in Trondheim and arrived in London next April the 18th. Chancellor lost his life, although the Russian envoy survived to reach London.

Chancellor had found a way to Russia, and though in time it was superseded by a better one it remained for years the only feasible route for the English.