Strategic Alliances and Trail of Broken Treaties 1700-1799

1759

Russian fur trade expands in Aleutian Islands

One ruble Russian note, issued by the Russian-American Company for use in North American colonies. Image: Alaska State Museum, Juneau
One ruble Russian note, issued by the Russian-American Company for use in North American colonies. Image: Alaska State Museum, Juneau

On Umnak and Unalaska, two islands off southwestern Alaska, the Russian merchant Stepan Glotov begins trading with the Unangan (Aleut) for sea otter and seal pelts that he will sell on the European market. When Glotov brings Russian trade to the islands, there are 24 Unangan villages with a combined population of about 1,000 (Native Voices, "1759: Russian fur trade expands in the Aleutian Islands").

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