The Resume

(May 10, 1709-November 14, 1746)
Born in Windsheim, Germany
Birth name was Georg Wilhelm Stöller
Physician and naturalist
Accompanied Vitus Bering's Great Northern Expedition (1738-43)
Died of a fever in Tyumen, Russia, while returning to St. Petersburg
Namesake for Steller's jay, Steller's eagle, Steller's eider, Steller's sea lion, and Steller's sea cow

Why he might be annoying:

He changed his name because the Russian language lacked letters to render the sound of 'ö.'
He was arrested and accused of fomenting rebellion among the native Kamchatkans.
No accurate portrait of him is known to exist.
The sea cow named after him was hunted into extinction within three decades of his discovery of it.

Why he might not be annoying:

After the expedition wrecked on Bering Island, he was able to save much of the remaining crew from scurvy by getting them to eat a seaweed that was high in vitamin C.
He was one of the first naturalists to use a study blind, building a hut in the middle of the sea lion colony on Bering Island to observe them during mating season.
His journals were consulted by other Pacific explorers, such as Captain James Cook.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 18th Century Scientists
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 82]
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 37)
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Look at My Globe
• Profiles 51501-51750 (Ranked: 51535)
• Scientists

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying